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Publication, Part of

National Child Measurement Programme, England 2020/21 School Year

Official statistics, National statistics

Publication Date:
16 Nov 2021
Geographic Coverage:
England
Geographical Granularity:
Regions, Local Authorities
National Statistics

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National Child Measurement Programme, England 2020/21 School Year

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Introduction

More detailed description of weighting methodology provided

A more detailed description of the weighting methodology is given in the Methodology and Data Quality, Weighting data section. 

19 July 2022 09:20 AM

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Summary

This report presents findings from the Government's National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) for England, 2020/21 school year.

It covers children in Reception (aged 4-5 years) and Year 6 (aged 10-11 years) in mainstream state-maintained schools in England. The report contains analyses of Body Mass Index (BMI) classification rates by age, sex and ethnicity as well as geographic analyses.

Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020/21 collection was carried out as a sample and statistical weighting was applied to the data to produce an estimate of obesity prevalence at national level. Data quality investigations determined that weighted 2020/21 data is representative of the population and results are broadly comparable to previous years. Further information can be found in the data quality section.

In Reception, obesity prevalence has increased

9.9% in 2019/20 to 14.4% in 2020/21

In Year 6, obesity prevalence has increased

21.0% in 2019/20 to 25.5% in 2020/21

Boys have a higher obesity prevalence than girls for both age groups

In Reception, 14.8% of boys were obese compared to 14.1% of girls

In Year 6, 29.2% of boys were obese compared to 21.7% of girls

Children living in the most deprived areas were more than twice as likely to be obese, than those living in the least deprived areas

20.3% of Reception children living in the most deprived areas were obese compared to 7.8% of those living in the least deprived areas

33.8% of Year 6 children living in the most deprived areas were obese compared to 14.3% of those living in the least deprived areas

Last edited: 17 July 2022 10:54 pm