Obesity rates among 4-year-olds in New Zealand are declining

An Otago University team has analysed electronic data from the Health Ministry's B4 School Check - a free service offered to all 4-year-olds.

Analysis of data from 2010 to 2016 shows a downward trend across all socio-economic and ethnic groups.

That trend continued between 2017 and 2019.

Researcher Dr Lisa Daniels says the results are positive - but there's still work to do.

She says around 30 percent of four-year old New Zealand children are still considered overweight and obese.