Germany study finds higher child overweight rates in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas

The Robert Koch Institute analysed school‑entry health examinations of about 4.3 million children aged four to seven from 13 German states, covering enrolments between 2006 and 2024. The data show that 8.6‑13.4 % of the children were overweight and 3.7‑5.9 % were obese.

Children living in districts with higher socioeconomic deprivation were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese. The disparity was especially pronounced in rural and large‑town districts, where a lack of sidewalks, limited public transport and long distances to recreational facilities were identified as contributing factors. The prevalence remained relatively stable over the years, with a slight increase during the COVID‑19 pandemic years (2020‑2022) when data coverage narrowed. Researchers urge targeted preventive measures to address health inequality among children.