Hungry for Change: Tackling Obesity and Food Insecurity in the North of England. Chapter 1: Food Insecurity in Families with Children

Loopstra, Rachel, Arnold, Rosalyn ORCID: 0000-0001-5383-4349, Tajik, Behnam and Roberts, Kath (2025) Hungry for Change: Tackling Obesity and Food Insecurity in the North of England. Chapter 1: Food Insecurity in Families with Children [Report]

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Executive Summary

For many children across the North of England, growing up in poverty is an all-too-familiar reality. As poverty deepens, rates of obesity and food insecurity climb in tandem, with families in the North often bearing the weight of these challenges most acutely. This report delves into the complex relationship between poverty, place, and health, exploring how socioeconomic disadvantage and regional inequality combine to drive child obesity and food insecurity in the North. In doing so, it reflects on the challenges and opportunities that shape children’s health across the life course - from conception through to early adulthood. We find that households with children in the North are significantly more likely to experience food insecurity than those in the South, a disparity rooted largely in deep-seated economic inequality. The report highlights stark regional differences in childhood obesity, particularly among children in Reception and Year 6, underscoring the persistent link between deprivation and poor health outcomes. Our analysis also examines how food insecurity among pregnant women can adversely affect diet quality and increase the risk of maternal obesity. We explore the role of local food environments, revealing that communities in the North are disproportionately exposed to fast food outlets and unhealthy food options. We are calling for a joined-up approach to tackling childhood obesity and food insecurity, one that targets poverty, addresses regional inequality, and delivers focused support across the life course. Without urgent action, the inequality facing children in the North will only deepen.

Item Type:	Report
Uncontrolled Keywords:	England, Food Insecurity, Inequality
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health > Inst. Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	11 Dec 2025 08:59
Last Modified:	11 Dec 2025 08:59
Related Websites:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3196052
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