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National child measurement programme 2007/08

On 11 December 2008, the NHS Information Centre published a report (National child measurement programme 2007/08) which analyses the prevalence of “underweight”, “healthy weight”, “overweight” and “obese” children in Reception (4 -5 years) and Year 6 (aged 10 – 11 years), measured in the school year 2007/08. Where possible, comparisons are made with 2006/07 results.

In total, 973,073 primary school children were weighed and measured (88% of those eligible). The report finds that:

• In Reception, almost one in four of the children measured was either overweight or obese. In Year 6, this rate was nearly one in three;
• The percentage of children who are obese is almost twice as high in Year 6 than in Reception;
• The percentage of children who are overweight is only slightly higher in Year 6 than in Reception;
• The overall percentage of children who are underweight is similar for both years. Differences between boys and girls were found to be significant but very small for both years.

National child measurement programme 2007/08 report

National child measurement programme 2007/08 data tables

National child measurement programme 2007/08 online database