Fixing the foundations: The case for investing in children's health

One in four children in England are obese by the end of primary school. One in five have a probable mental health disorder. Infant mortality rates are climbing, while childhood immunisation rates have now fallen below international targets. Ultimately, the UK now ranks in the bottom half of high income nations for overall child wellbeing, and in the bottom third for mental health.

Improving children’s health is not just morally right – it is a social and economic necessity. A healthier generation of children is essential to delivering this government’s core missions: improving the nation’s health, spreading opportunity, and securing sustainable economic growth.