NEW obesity statistics which show a stark disparity between children living in town and the country reveal the need for fewer strategies and more action, according to the head of Jersey Sport.
David Kennedy, who leads the publicly funded organisation charged with making sport and physical activity more accessible for everyone, said he was “disheartened” that Jersey had become a “two-tier society”.
The latest Jersey Child Measurement Programme report has been recently published. Each year, the height and weight of children in Reception (4 to 5-year-olds) and Year 6 (10 to 11-year-olds) are measured and recorded by school nurses.
The 2024-25 edition revealed that children in Year 6 living in urban areas were far more likely to be overweight or obese than those living in rural areas (39 per cent compared to 26 per cent).
It also found that, in the same year group, a higher proportion of children who attend non-fee-paying schools were classified as overweight or obese (35 per cent) compared to those attending fee-paying schools (22 per cent).
However, over a three-year period, there was no significant difference between fee-paying and non-fee-paying schools, the smallest gap recorded in the past 16 years.
Overall, one in four children in Reception (28%) and one in three children in Year 6 (33%) were classified as overweight or obese.
Mr Kennedy said that the results, while concerning, were not surprising.
He said: “There has long been a clear link between socioeconomic status and children’s health outcomes. In Jersey, we’re seeing this play out more starkly as the cost-of-living crisis deepens, forcing many families to make difficult choices about their children’s diets and activities.
“It’s disheartening to acknowledge the existence of a two-tier society in an island like Jersey. We must ensure that our resources are directed toward those who need them most.
“While strategies and data collection have their place, we sometimes become too focused on planning and not enough on action. In many cases, funding simply needs to be allocated where it can have the greatest impact.”
Mr Kennedy said that targeting resources had been a key focus for Jersey Sport over the past year and the organisation, which is a registered charity supported by the Government, had concentrated on supporting those who are least active or cannot afford to take part.
He added that, with the help of two foundations, it had launched a fund to help families access sport when cost is a barrier.
“The referrals we’ve received have been eye-opening – sometimes the support needed is as basic as a pair of trainers, which speaks volumes about the hardship many families are facing,” he said.
“As an island, we must shift from being reactive to being proactive. While I’ve seen encouraging progress in support for areas such as teenage mental health, we must also invest in addressing its root causes. The physical health of our young people deserves the same level of attention and urgency.”
Deputy David Warr, whose attempt to create temporary youth facilities at Gas Place was recently rejected by the States Assembly, said that the statistics reaffirmed his belief that immediate action is needed.
“Many Members said in the debate that they wanted more outdoor space for young people, but just not at Gas Place,” he said. “Meanwhile, the town skatepark has closed, Fort Regent is closed and the proposed youth centre in Ann Street is three years away. There remains an existential problem of where young people can hang out.
“The disparity between town and country has long been known and is it outrageous that our Assembly continues to pretend not to see.”
Russell Price, headteacher at Rouge Bouillon, said he recognised the realities of life in town compared to the country.
“People living in the country are more likely to have a garden and lanes to run and cycle through, whereas people in town live in flats,” he said. “Parks and play areas, while fantastic, are simply less readily available than your own outdoor space.
“That said, as a school, I think we are moving in the right direction. We work closely with Jersey Sport, who are great at promoting and supporting healthy living, and the school lunch programme has had a very beneficial impact. We also provide as many opportunities as possible to be active, and the importance of sport and diet feature on the PSHE curriculum.”
