The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) measures the height and weight of over one-million children in reception (age 4 to 5 years) and year 6 (age 10 to 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 for academic years 2006 to 2007 through to 2023 to 2024 is available on this profile. Prevalence of underweight, healthy weight, overweight, obesity and severe obesity can be examined at upper and lower local authority level, for Integrated Care Board (ICB) geographies, regions and England. Data quality indicators are also displayed, for example rate of participation in the NCMP.
Local authority level inequalities data is available using the reception and year 6 'prevalence of obesity (including severe obesity), 5 years of data combined' indicators. Prevalence of obesity by sex, ethnic group, and deprivation quintile can be examined for upper and lower tier local authorities in the Inequalities data view of the Obesity Profile. England and region data is also presented split by sex, ethnic group, and area deprivation in the Inequalities Data view.
To help identify pockets of high child obesity prevalence within local authorities this profile includes an NCMP small area data domain. Trend data is available on the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) and obesity for Middle Super Output Areas (MSOA), and electoral wards. This data will assist planning and delivery of services for children and the targeting of resources at a local level to help reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity.
The NCMP data is updated in this profile annually in November.
The Active Lives Adult Survey conducted by Sport England collects data on physical actvity, consumption of fruit and vegetables and self-reported height and weight among adults aged 18 years and over in local authority areas across England, this is the best source of data for monitoring trends in local areas.
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities uses the data to produce local authority estimates of adult overweight and obesity prevalence for the Public Health Outcomes Framework. The height and weight data is adjusted at an individual level to better align with measured data and then age standardised to improve comparability between local authorities. Details of the self-report adjustment and age-standardisation are available in the definitions tab within the profile.
Proportions of adults who are physically active or inactive, prevalence of obesity, and overweight (including obesity), and proportion of adults consuming 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables can be examined in this profile at local authority level. These indicators are usually updated annually in May each year.
Where available, in the Inequalities Data view, data is presented split by:
The Active Lives Children and Young People Survey conducted by Sport England collects data from children and young people in school years 1 to 11 (ages 5 to 16) in England. The survey reports on levels and types of physical activity including outcomes and attitudes to physical activity and involvement in volunteering to support sport and physical activity. This profile includes local authority level data on the proportion of children and young people who are physically active (an average of at least 60 minutes per day across the week), with inequalities data for England by sex, school year, and ethnic group. This indicator is usually updated annually in February each year.
The Health Survey for England (HSE) is the best source for national level data on adult overweight and obesity prevalence providing annual data since 1993.
The HSE is also the best source for physical activity data at a national level. The HSE allows for comparison of physical activity levels over a longer time period than the ALAS, providing data for 2012, 2016 and 2021. The HSE also provides a more complete summary of activity levels as it includes physical activity while at work and other non-occupational activities such as housework, manual work and DIY activities. It also includes activities covered by ALAS such as gardening, walking, and sports and exercise.
National estimates of fruit and vegetable consumption are available from the HSE; participants are asked numerous questions, including separate questions about fruits, vegetables and pulses, and portion sizes rather than the single-item question in the ALAS.
The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) is a continuous, cross-sectional survey. It is designed to collect detailed, quantitative information on the food consumption, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the population living in private households in the UK. Fieldwork began in 2008. Data are collected using food diaries. NDNS provides essential evidence on the diet and nutrition of the UK population to enable the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities to identify and address nutritional issues in the population, and monitor progress towards public health nutrition objectives.
