<![CDATA[One of the critical public health concerns worldwide is childhood obesity, which affects both developed and developing countries. Addressing this issue requires understanding its scope and analysing its causes and contributing factors. Recent studies highlight how obesity rates vary globally, with growing attention paid to the role of local socioeconomic and environmental factors. Thus, this work integrates these updated findings to propose hypotheses explaining Sheffield's observed patterns, aligning local data with broader public health insights. This study investigates the spatial distribution and prevalence of childhood obesity among Year 6 students in Sheffield, UK. Utilizing a high-granularity baseline from the 2016/2017 National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) alongside the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI), the analysis examines the spatial overlap between fast-food outlet density, green space accessibility, and income deprivation. While longitudinal data (2016–2024) confirms a persistent prevalence gap between Sheffield and national averages, spatial analysis reveals a significant "East-West" gradient. The analysis reveals an average obesity prevalence of 19.21% across the city wards, with rates ranging from 7.5% to 28.2%, with statistically significant spatial autocorrelation (Global Moran’s I > 0; p < 0.05) identifying distinct obesity clusters in eastern and central wards. Findings suggest that socioeconomic deprivation acts as an effect modifier; specifically, the protective benefits of green space appear negated in high-deprivation zones characterized by "food swamp" environments. The conclusions highlight the need for targeted interventions —such as Hot Food Takeaway (HFT) exclusion zones within the Sheffield Local Plan— to address these entrenched spatial health disparities and promote equitable outcomes.Received: 2025-08-17 Revised: 2025-12-11 Accepted: 2026-06-12 Published: 2026-07-28]]>
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