Childhood Overweight and Obesity
The National Child Measurement Programme for England (NCMP) which includes nearly all children in reception year (aged 4-5) and year 6 (aged 10-11) . 95% of eligible children were measured in 2017/18.
Child obesity is a good indicator of adult obesity which can lead to poor health outcomes.Â
The NCMP is a key element of the Government’s approach to tackling child obesity by annually measuring over one million children and providing reliable data on rates of childhood obesity. Children are measured in reception (aged 4–5 years) and year 6 (aged 10–11 years) in mainstream state-maintained schools in England.
The programme was launched in the 2005/06 academic year and now holds twelve years of reliable data.
Obesity prevalence by level of deprivation - Reception Year (Ages 4-5)
- There is a strong relationship between deprivation and obesity.
- Obesity prevalence was over twice as high in the most deprived areas (12.8%) than the least deprived areas (5.7%).
Obesity prevalence of children in Reception Year from most deprived areas.
Obesity prevalence of children in Reception Year from least deprived areas.
Obesity prevalence by level of deprivation - Year 6 (Ages 10-11)
Obesity prevalence was over twice as high in the most deprived areas (26.8%) than the least deprived areas (11.7%).Â
Obesity prevalence of children in Year 6 from most deprived areas.
Obesity prevalence of children in Year 6 from least deprived areas.
Severe obesity prevalence by level of deprivation - Reception Year (Ages 4-5)
- Severe obesity prevalence was almost four times as high in the most deprived areas (3.8%) than the least deprived areas (1.0%).
Severe obesity prevalence of children in reception year from most deprived areas.
Severe obesity prevalence of children in Year 6 from least deprived areas.
Severe obesity prevalence by level of deprivation - Year 6 (Ages 10-11)
- Severe obesity prevalence was over four times as high (7.0% and 1.6% respectively).
Severe obesity prevalence of children in Year 6 from most deprived areas.
Severe obesity prevalence of children in reception year from least deprived areas.
Research Articles
Publication: Part of Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet
National statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet, England, 2019
- Publication Date: 8 May 2019
- Geographic Coverage: England
- Geographical Granularity: Local Authorities, Regions, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships
- Date Range: 01 Apr 2017 to 31 Dec 2018