Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Rates of obesity in children are rising and the cause is multifactorial. Previous studies have shown a higher prevalence of childhood obesity in areas with high socioeconomic deprivation and that the gap is increasing gap between the obesity prevalence in the most and least deprived areas. We report data on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), specific Domains of Deprivation and E-food desert index (EFDI) data for children and young people (CYP) in the complications of excess weight (CEW) clinic in Southwest London.

Methods: We collected IMD decile data for 49 CYP with severe obesity (BMI SDS > 3.33 or obesity-related co-morbidities). We collected data on 7 Domains of Deprivation and the EFDI rating. We looked at the indices of deprivation across the hospital catchment area.

Results: 64% of CYP live in the lowest 5 IMD deciles, with 14% in the lowest 2 deciles, the median IMD decile was 4. 37% of areas in the hospital catchment are ranked in the lowest 5 IMD deciles. 72% of CYP live in the most 5 deprived deciles for income, 22% live in the 2 most deprived deciles. 60% of CYP live in the 5 most deprived deciles for employment. 76% of CYP live in the 5 most deprived deciles for Income Deprivation affecting children index (IDACI), with 22% of CYP living in the 2 most deprived deciles. 48% of areas in the hospital catchment are ranked in the lowest 5 deciles for IDACI. Only 4% of CYP live in the 5 worst deciles for EFDI.

Conclusion: The majority of CYP in our CEW clinic live in the 5 most deprived deciles for IMD, income, employment and IDACI. Most areas in the hospital catchment are ranked in the highest 5 deciles for IMD, income, employment and IDACI. Most CYP live in areas with good access to groceries based on EFDI deciles which reflects the hospital catchment area. It is important to recognise how socioeconomic inequalities impact the health needs of these CYP and tailor interventions appropriately. Further studies are needed to understand the drivers of socioeconomic inequalities and how to address them.