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National Statistics
Publication, Part of

National Child Measurement Programme - England, 2011-2012 school year

Official statistics, National statistics
Publication Date:
Geographic Coverage:
England
Geographical Granularity:
Regions, Local Authorities
Date Range:
01 Sep 2011 to 01 Aug 2012

Summary

This report summarises the key findings from the Government's National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) for England, 2011/12 school year. The report provides high-level analysis of the prevalence of 'underweight', 'healthy weight', 'overweight', 'obese' and 'overweight and obese combined' children, in Reception (aged 4-5 years) and Year 6 (aged 10-11 years), measured in state schools in England in the school year 2011/12.

The National Obesity Observatory (NOO) will produce additional analysis of 2011/12 NCMP data (expected to be published in early 2013). The anonymised national dataset will also be made available to Public Health Observatories (PHOs) to allow regional and local analysis of the data.

In addition, NOO have included 2011/12 NCMP data (as well as data from previous years) in an e-Atlas - an interactive mapping tool that enables the user to compare a range of indicators, examine correlations and make regional and national comparisons. See 'Look up results for your area' on the right hand side.

Highlights

  • In Reception, over a fifth (22.6 per cent) of the children measured were either overweight or obese. In Year 6, this proportion was one in three (33.9 per cent).
  • The percentage of obese children in Year 6 (19.2 per cent) was over double that of Reception year children (9.5 per cent).
  • In Reception, the proportion of obese children (9.5 per cent) was similar in 2010/11 (9.4 per cent). The proportion of overweight and obese children combined (22.6 per cent) was also similar in 2010/11 (22.6 per cent). The proportion of underweight children was lower in 2011/12 (0.9 per cent) than in 2010/11 (1.0 per cent).
  • In Year 6, the proportion of obese children (19.2 per cent) was higher than in 2010/11 (19.0 per cent). The proportion of overweight and obese children combined (33.9 per cent) was also higher than in 2010/11 (33.4 per cent). The proportion of underweight children was lower than in 2010/11 (although rounded to one decimal place both are 1.3 per cent)
  • The prevalence of children with a healthy weight was higher in Reception (76.5 per cent) than Year 6 (64.9 per cent). In both years a higher percentage of girls were of a healthy weight than boys. In Reception 77.8 per cent of girls and 75.4 per cent of boys were a healthy weight and in Year 6 this was 66.2 per cent and 63.6 per cent respectively.

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Last edited: 2 November 2018 1:49 pm