October 2018
[email protected] Excess weight in Wakefield schoolchildren 2018 An updated analysis of excess weight in Wakefield schoolchildren using data from the National Child Measurement Program (NCMP) 2017/18. Key findings: There has been a rise in the percentage of Wakefield children who are overweight and obese in recent years. 23.9% of Reception children are carrying excess weight. 35.3% of Year 6 children are carrying excess weight. 5% of Year 6 children are severely obese. There is a link between deprivation and excess weight in Wakefield for both age groups. There are gender differences in excess weight in Wakefield Contents: 1. Background………………………………………………….…….2 2a. Trends in overweight YR children……………….………3 2b. Trends in overweight Y6 children……………….………4 3a. Excess weight in YR …………………………………….….….5 3b. Obesity in YR……………………………………………….….….7 4a. Excess weight in Y6………………………………..…….…….8 4b. Obesity in Y6…………………………………………………….10 5. Gender differences in excess weight…….…………....11 6. Deprivation differences in excess weight ……………12 7. Summary…………………………………………………………….13 8. Methodology and Additional Information…………..14 9. Appendix – ward level prevalences…………………....15 1 October 2018
[email protected] 1. Background The UK is experiencing an epidemic of obesity in both adults and children. Childhood obesity is considered to be a good indicator of adult obesity, which can lead to many different long term health conditions and poor health outcomes. The National Child Measurement Program (NCMP) is a government scheme which collects data on the height and weight of school children in Year Reception (aged 4 to 5 years) and Year 6 (aged 10 to 11 years) annually. The scheme was set up in 2006 in line with the government’s strategy to tackle obesity and inform local planning and service delivery for children.