The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) measures the height and weight of over one-million children aged 4-5 and 10-11 years each year in primary schools in England. The NCMP is an excellent source of surveillance data which helps increase understanding of the patterns and trends in underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity among the child population.
NCMP data from 2006/07 to 2017/18 are now available in this online data tool. Prevalence of underweight, healthy weight, overweight, obesity and severe obesity for children in Reception (age 4-5 years) and Year 6 (age 10-11 years) can be examined at local authority level. Data quality indicators are also available in this tool, for example rate of participation in the NCMP.
Five years worth of data combined for obesity prevalence provides inequalities data for sex, deprivation and ethnic group by local authority. This data is available for the last two indicators in the drop down menu on the inequalities data tab:
Local authority data has been changed from local authority of school, to local authority of child residence.
These indicators provide local authority level estimates for several topic areas that are determinants of or related to child obesity. For each topic area, where possible, the information is shown by gender, ethnicity, sexuality, region and local authority.
To help understand some of the diversity within local authorities and examine pockets of high obesity prevalence, Public Health England produces child weight data by MSOA and Ward for all of England. The spreadsheets at the following link provide trend data on the prevalence of excess weight (overweight including obesity) and obesity. Data from the NCMP is presented for Middle Super Output Areas (MSOA), Electoral Wards, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG), local authorities, and England:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-obesity-and-excess-weight-small-area-level-data
2017/18 data added. Historic severe obesity data added and a new indicator for inequalities in obesity prevalence added showing England data.
A statistical commentary on this update is available here.
Contextual indicators added to the profile
2016/17 data added, severe obesity data added
2015/16 participation rates added
2015/16 data added
Overweight data added
2014/15 data added. Five-year rolled obesity prevalence added with inequalities data for sex, deprivation and ethnicity at a local authority level. Local authority data has been changed from local authority of school, to local authority of child residence.
2013/14 data added
2012/13 data added