Child Health GP

Question 1

How is obesity in children measured and defined?

Answer 1

Calculate BMI (kg/m²)

Chart result in BMI growth charts:

http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/growthcharts/

• >85^th percentile is overweight
• >95^th percentile is obese
• >99^th percentile is morbidly obese

In children <2 years use weight instead of BMI, >95^th percentile also classed as obesity.

Question 2

When are children’s BMI measured as part of the UK National Child Measurement Programme?

Answer 2

As they begin and leave primary school

• in reception class (aged 4 to 5 years) and
• in year 6 (aged 10 to 11 years)

Key findings 2015/16:

• over a fifth of reception children were overweight or obese,
• in year 6 it was over a third.
• Obesity prevalence for children living in the most deprived areas in both age groups was more than double that of those living in the least deprived areas.
• The deprivation gap as measured by the differences in obesity prevalence between the most and least deprived areas has increased over time.

http://content.digital.nhs.uk/searchcatalogue?q=national+child+measurement+programme&area=&size=10&sort=Relevance