Children in deprived Sefton areas suffering stunted growth

The study examined the health of 47,000 children04:00, 24 Jul 2026Children living in the most deprived areas of Sefton are more likely to have stunted growth than their peers in more affluent areas, a new study has shown. The study looked at health data from almost 47,000 children aged four to five and 10 to 11, between 2013 and 2023, finding that children living in the most deprived areas of the borough were more likely to be shorter than expected for their age.‌One in 41 Reception-aged pupils in the most deprived areas of Sefton had stunted growth, compared to one in 72 in the least deprived 20% of areas. For Year 6 pupils, one in 62 had stunted growth in the poorest parts of the borough, compared to one in 122 in the most affluent.‌The study also explored the possible reasons for the gr