British children are getting taller, but researchers say this is not a positive trend. A new analysis of national data reveals that the increase in height is largely driven by rising childhood obesity and widening inequalities.
Scientists from the child measurement programmes across Britain examined height and weight data for over a million children annually. They found that average height increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 11-year-old girls in England rising from 146.6cm to 148cm between 2019–20 and 2020–21. Over the same period, the proportion of overweight or obese children in this group jumped from 35.2% to 40.9%.
Even before the pandemic, average height was gradually increasing, especially in deprived areas. In England’s most deprived areas, the average height of 11-year-old boys rose by 1.7cm from 2009–10 to 2023–24, while overweight and obesity rates increased from 37.7% to 43.3%. Similar patterns were observed in Scotland.
The researchers explain that obesity causes hormonal changes that accelerate growth, but this does not indicate better health. Obese children often enter puberty earlier and stop growing sooner, and face higher risks of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease later in life.
The findings highlight deepening inequalities, with poorer families facing greater exposure to unhealthy food outlets, less access to safe outdoor spaces, and cuts to children’s services. The authors conclude that addressing child poverty and inequality is essential for healthy growth.
