Children's health
This report presents key statistics about children’s health and health related behaviours, showing 2016 prevalence and trends. It includes additional analysis relating to overweight and obesity among children in 2016.
Highlights
- The prevalence of childhood obesity increased between 1995 and 2005. Since 2005 the rate of childhood obesity has levelled out, and in 2016 was 16% among children aged 2 to 15.
- In 2016, the prevalence of obesity among children aged 2 to 15 varied with household income, being lowest in the fifth of households with the highest incomes, and highest in the fifth of households with lowest incomes.
- Most mothers and fathers thought that their children were about the right weight (82% of mothers, 85% of fathers). Their perceptions were not always accurate; 39% of mothers and 52% of fathers of obese children aged 4 to 15 thought that their child was about the right weight.
- The proportion of children aged 8 to 15 who had ever smoked has decreased overall, from 18% of boys and 20% of girls in 1997 to 6% of boys and 3% of girls in 2016.
- The proportion of children aged 8 to 15 reporting ever having had a proper alcoholic drink (a whole drink, not just a sip) fell from 45% in 2003 to 15% in 2016.
Download the tables for this report.