Standards | LG Inform Plus

Description: Established in 2005, the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) weighs and measures children in Reception (typically aged 4–5 years) and Year 6 (aged 10–11 years). The findings are used to inform local planning and delivery of services for children and gather population-level surveillance data to allow analysis of trends in excess weight. The programme also seeks to raise awareness of the importance of healthy weight in children. The NCMP is part of the government's strategy to tackle the continuing rise in excess weight. Although the policy on child obesity covers a period of 12 years, progress over the period 2008-11 will be monitored through the inclusion of child obesity (as shown by NCMP data) as one of the indicators in the child health Public Service Agreement (PSA). When interpreting the results, it is important to consider the possible effects of participation rate on prevalence rates.

Help text: This is the percentage of year 6 children who are living with obesity and includes children who are living with severe obesity. The BMI classification of each child is derived by calculating the child's BMI centile and assigning the BMI classification. Obese is defined as a BMI centile greater than or equal to the 95th centile. Severely obese is defined as a BMI centile greater than or equal to 99.6 (This BMI classification is a subset of the "Obese" classification). The results are derived from the postcode of the school.

Measurement of children's heights and weights, without shoes and coats and in normal, light, indoor clothing, was overseen by healthcare professionals and undertaken in school by trained staff. Measurements could be taken at any time during the academic year. Some children could be over one year older than others in the same school year at the point of measurement. This does not impact upon a child's BMI classification since BMI centile results are adjusted for age.

The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) collects height and weight measurements of children in reception (aged 4-5 years) and year 6 (aged 10-11 years) primarily in mainstream state-maintained schools in England. Local authorities are mandated to collect data from mainstream state-maintained schools but collection of data from special schools (schools for pupils with special educational needs and pupil referral units) and independent schools is encouraged.

Dataset: Prevalence of underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese children (based on the postcode of the school)

Percentage of children in year 6 who are overweight and obese is found in the following lists

Percentage of children in year 6 who are overweight and obese applies to

Percentage of children in year 6 who are overweight and obese applies to

Percentage of children in year 6 who are overweight and obese has subjects

Metric types list