ASO is proud to have contributed to the newly published Child of the North All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) report at the House of Commons.
ASO’s Prof Maria Bryant (Trustee), Prof Nicola Heslehurst (President), Dr Kath Roberts, and Rob Oxley (Operational Sub-Committee member) co-authored the report alongside a wide cross-sector team.
Led by Prof Bryant, the report highlights the stark and persistent North–South divide in childhood health:
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Food insecurity rose by 5.5% in the North between 2019/20 and 2022/23, compared to 3.8% in the South
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Children in the North are more likely to live with obesity, with inequalities evident as early as Reception age
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Families in high-poverty areas face reduced access to healthy, affordable food and are more exposed to unhealthy food environments
The report calls for urgent, joined-up policy action – including:
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Universal free school meals
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Automatic enrolment into support schemes
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Greater investment in early years services
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Stronger regulation of junk food advertising
We are proud to see ASO’s expertise and leadership at the heart of this vital work to tackle childhood obesity and health inequalities.
🔗 Read the full report: Child of the North APPG Report – Hungry for Change
