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National Statistics
Publication

National Child Measurement Programme - England, 2012-13 school year

This is part of

Official statistics, National statistics
Publication date:
Geographic coverage:
England
Geographical granularity:
Strategic Health Authorities, Local Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, Regions
Date range:
01 Sep 2012 to 31 Aug 2013

Summary

This report summarises the key findings from the Government's National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) for England, 2012-13 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 (typically aged 4-5 years) and Year 6 (typically aged 10-11 years), measured in state schools in England in the school year 2012-13.

Public Health England's Obesity Knowledge and Intelligence Team (PHE Obesity K&I), previously the National Obesity Observatory (NOO), publish a detailed annual NCMP report which contains additional specific analyses not included in the HSCIC summary report. This report is expected to be published in early 2014. The anonymised national data set will also be made available to Public Health Observatories (PHOs) to allow regional and local analysis of the data.

In addition, PHE Obesity K&I include NCMP data in an online data tool that enables the user to examine patterns and trends at local authority level. This interactive data tool will be updated with the 2012/13 NCMP data in early January 2014. See 'Look up results for your area' on the right hand side to access this tool.

Key facts

  • In Reception the proportion of obese children (9.3 per cent) was lower than in 2011-12 (9.5 per cent) and also lower than in 2006-07 (9.9 per cent). 

  • In Year 6 the proportion of obese children (18.9 per cent) was lower than in 2011-12 (19.2 per cent) but higher than in 2006-07 (17.5 per cent).

  • This is the first time since the NCMP collection began in 2006-07 that the prevalence of obesity has reduced for Year 6 children. Further years' data will be required to see if this is the start of a decline.

  • As in previous years, a strong positive relationship existed between deprivation and obesity prevalence for children in each school year with obesity prevalence being significantly higher in deprived areas.

  • Obesity prevalence was significantly higher in urban areas than rural areas for each age group, as was the case in previous years.

  • Obesity prevalence varied by Strategic Health Authority (SHA). South East Coast SHA, South Central SHA and East of England SHA had the lowest obesity prevalence in Reception and South East Coast SHA, South Central SHA and South West SHA had the lowest obesity prevalence in Year 6. London SHA reported the highest obesity prevalence for both years.

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Last edited: 2 November 2018 1:50 pm