Children are being “betrayed” as the UK failed to give them a healthy start to life, academics said on Monday.

Experts warned of the “appalling decline” of the health of children under the age of five in the UK with soaring rates of obesity and tooth decay.

A new report, by the Academy for Medical Sciences, claims that, in recent years, progress on child health had “stalled.”

Key concerns outlined in the report noted that more than a fifth of the children aged 5 were overweight or obese, and that nearly a quarter of 5-year-olds in England are affected by tooth decay.

Meanwhile, between 2014 and 2017 there was a rise in infant mortality in England, disproportionately affecting the poorest parts of the country, the UK ranks 30^th out of 49 OECD countries for infant mortality.

The Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health said the document “provides alarming evidence that the UK is failing too many of its children.”

Glasgow University’s Professor Helen Minnis, co-chairwoman of the report, said: “Child deaths are rising, infant survival lags behind comparable countries, and preventable physical and mental health issues plague our youngest citizens.

“The science is clear, we are betraying our children. Unless the health of babies and young children is urgently prioritised, we condemn many to a life of poorer health and lost potential. The time to act is now.”

Co-chairman Professor Andrew Pollard, from the University of Oxford, said: “There are huge challenges for the NHS today, driven by the growing pressures on health and social care from an ageing population.

“Even more disconcerting is the evidence cited in our Academy of Medical Sciences report of an appalling decline in the health of our children, which makes for an even bleaker outlook for their future.

“There is clear evidence in the report that tackling childhood health conditions, addressing inequalities and providing early years social support can change the future of health and prosperity.”

Commenting on the report, Dr Mike McKean, vice president for health policy at the Royal College of PediatricsT and Child Health, said: “This report provides alarming evidence that the UK is failing too many of its children.

“We are presiding over a crisis in child health that demands urgent action. As paediatricians, we witness daily devastating consequences of these systemic failures.

“Without transformative intervention on child health, we condemn generations to a poorer future.”

Claire O’Meara, from the UK Committee for UNICEF, said: “The government needs to act on this evidence now to reverse already worrying declines in children’s health outcomes.”

A government spokesman said: “We’ve taken significant action to improve children’s health, both now and in the long term.

This includes dramatically reducing sugar in children’s foods, investing over £600 million ($755 million dollars) to improve the quality of sport for children.

The spokesman added that this could encourage healthy diets for families from lower income households through schemes like Healthy Start. (dpa/NAN)

Update news