Childhood Obesity in Sheffield: 2007/08 School Year Presented by A. King Senior PH Analyst NHS Sheffield

2 What is Obesity? “Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health” (WHO) Body Mass Index (BMI) is a crude measure: In Adults Overweight: 25<= BMI <30, Obese: 30<=BMI In Children (<16 years) body composition varies by age and gender. National (UK) BMI Percentiles can be used BMI Kg/m 2 = Body Mass Kg (Height) 2 m 2

3 Impacts of Obesity Physical Health Heart Disease & Stroke Hypertension Diabetes (Type 2) Cancer Increased risk in surgery Lower Back Pain Cost to Society Estimated cost of £2.5 – 3.6 Billion per year in England. Includes treatment & indirect costs e.g. sickness absence (Commons Health Committee, 2004) Mental Health Reduced Self Esteem Depression

4 Rising Obesity Adults Adult Obesity rates in UK more than doubled in 25 years (Foresight Report, 2007) Nearly a quarter of men & women are now obese (Health Survey for England, 2004) 60% estimated to be obese by 2050, based on current trends Children 10% children 4-5 year olds obese (NCMP 2006/07) 18% children year olds obese (NCMP 2006/07) Rising rates among children…

5 Rising Obesity in Children Data Source: Health Survey for England

6 Causes of Obesity Energy in > Energy Out Social & Environmental Deprivation/Culture Work Patterns Technology (e.g. transport) Food Production / marketing Genetics & Individual Behaviour Increased susceptibility of some individuals to store energy (Endomorph) Diet/Physical activity - Will power Does not explain increase in obesity at population level

7 Tackling Obesity Government ambition to reverse trends in obesity & reduce back to 2000 levels by 2020 National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) was established in 2005 Weighing and measuring of primary school children aged 4- 5 (Reception) and (Year 6). Data collected by PCTs with support & co-operation of Schools. Validation checks & BMI calculation via supplied data tools. Uploaded to Information Centre.

8 NCMP Participation in Sheffield 2007/08 – Sheffield exceeded the set PCT target rate of 85% participation Reasons for non-participation included no consent, refusal to share data, Absence, Child Refusal. Participation rates varied little by gender or ethnicity. Participation rates did vary by school

9 Data Quality Issues Rounding 42% Sheffield Records with a height rounded to either 0.0cm or 0.5cm (expected ~20%) 49% Sheffield Records with weight rounded to either 0.0Kg or 0.5Kg (expected ~20%) Participation Effects The effect of participation on prevalence estimation: higher levels of opting out among children with higher BMI scores

10 Data Quality Issues

11 Data Quality Issues

12 Sheffield Prevalence: Context YR – 2006/07 Sheffield had the lowest prevalence of obese (6.9%) & overweight (9.8%) children in Yorkshire & Humber

13 Sheffield Prevalence: Context Y6 – 2006/07 Sheffield also had one of the lowest prevalence of obese (14.8%) & overweight (12.5%) children in Y&H

14 Sheffield Prevalence: Context Sheffield Participation higher than England & Y&H True prevalence in Sheffield may be even lower compared to England and Y&H than what the estimate suggests.

15 Sheffield Prevalence: 2007/08 Headline Figures for YR 20.1% obese or overweight - significant increase from 2006/07 (16.7%) % Overweight > % Obese (same nationally) No significant differences obese/overweight between males and females Headline Figures for Y6 30.6% obese or overweight - significant increase from 2006/07 (27.3%) % Obese > % Overweight (same nationally) Males obese/overweight (33.0%) significantly higher than females (28.0%)

16 Sheffield Prevalence: Deprivation Prevalence of obesity/overweight increase in Sheffield with Deprivation (reflects national findings) Possibly influenced by food price (high fat/sugar foods = cheapest per Calorie)

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22 Sheffield Prevalence: Ethnicity Prevalence of obesity & overweight in Sheffield Highest in Black/Black British children. Reflects findings nationally (UK) and in other western countries e.g. USA Likely to reflect cultural differences e.g. lifestyle, diet No/limited evidence to suggest possible genetic differences

23 Forward… Link NCMP data to Acorn (social marketing) Types Identify types families/households at most risk

24 END Thanks for Listening