1. child population Examining available data for the noo
National Obesity
Observatory
Examining available data for the
child population
Please acknowledge the National Obesity Observatory as well as the data source (e.g. HSE or NCMP) when using any of these slides.
For more information on the data and information included please contact NOO:
© NOO 2011

2. noo The National Obesity Observatory is
a single point of contact for wide ranging authoritative information on data, evaluation and evidence related to weight status and its determinants
© NOO 2011

3. Child obesity prevalence aged 2-15 years (%)
Health Survey for England
Three year averages shown, middle year displayed on chart
Child obesity: BMI ≥ 95th centile of the UK90 growth reference
© NOO 2011
Between 1996 and 2004 obesity prevalence for children aged 2-15 years showed a substantial increase. However, this increase appears to have ‘levelled off’ since 2004, and prevalence has possibly started to decrease.

4. Child prevalence by BMI status
National Child Measurement Programme 2009/10
This analysis uses the 2nd, 85th and 95th centiles of the British 1990 growth reference (UK90) for BMI to classify children as underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese. These thresholds are the most frequently used for population monitoring within England.
© NOO 2011
This chart shows the proportion of the child population by BMI classification, for the two age groups measured for the NCMP.
There is a substantial increase in obesity prevalence (and associated decrease in healthy weight prevalence) between the two age groups measured by the NCMP.

5. BMI distribution: Reception children
National Child Measurement Programme 2007/08 to 2009/10 (pooled)
© NOO 2011

6. BMI distribution: Year 6 children
National Child Measurement Programme 2007/08 to 2009/10 (pooled)
© NOO 2011

7. Prevalence of obesity by deprivation decile
© NOO 2011
Prevalence of obesity by deprivation decile
Children in Reception and Year 6 (National Child Measurement Programme 2009/10)
Child obesity: BMI ≥95th centile of the UK90 growth reference
Deprivation deciles assigned using the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2010
Reception
Year 6
Child obesity prevalence is closely associated with socioeconomic status. More deprived populations tend to have higher obesity prevalence.
Obesity prevalence in the most deprived 10% of the population is approximately twice that among in the least deprived 10%.
The deprivation deciles in this analysis have been assigned using the LSOA of residence of children measured.

8. Prevalence of obesity: Children in Year 6
National Child Measurement Programme 2009/10
Child obesity: BMI ≥ 95th centile of the UK90 growth reference
© NOO 2011
This chart shows that health inequalities are experienced in all areas of the country.
Obesity prevalence among the least deprived 20% of the English population shows relatively little variation, regardless of the region of residence. There is more variation in the prevalence of obesity among the most deprived 20% of the English population. The difference between rich and poor within each region is much larger than any variation between regions.
This means that, although there are regional differences in obesity prevalence, much of this can be explained by the sociodemographic mix of the underlying population.

9. Prevalence of obesity by ethnic group
Reception (National Child Measurement Programme 2009/10)
Child obesity: BMI ≥ 95th centile of the UK90 growth reference
© NOO 2011
Prevalence of obesity varies between ethnic groups and sexes for both Reception (aged 4-5 years) and Year 6 (aged years) children.
For further information see:

10. Prevalence (%) of obesity by ethnic group
Year 6 (National Child Measurement Programme 2009/10)
Child obesity: BMI ≥ 95th centile of the UK90 growth reference
© NOO 2011
Prevalence of obesity varies between ethnic groups and sexes for both Reception (aged 4-5 years) and Year 6 (aged years) children.
For further information see:

11. Prevalence of obesity by month of measurement
Reception children (age 4-5 years), NCMP
Child obesity: BMI ≥ 95th centile of the UK90 growth reference
© NOO 2011
A pattern of decreasing obesity prevalence throughout the first (Reception) year of school has been identified in NCMP data. Obesity prevalence appears to be lower for children measured later in the academic year.
This pattern appears to be stronger when variation in the sociodemographic status, ethnicity or age of children measured is adjusted for.
Whether this is a near-linear decrease or whether there is also additional variation within the academic year needs further analysis.
One possible explanation is that the school environment is in some way ‘healthier’ than the pre-school/home environment, but there may be some other reason.
For more information see:

12.
© NOO 2011
The NOO obesity e-Atlases contain obesity data and determinants, and allow exploration of these data.
They are available for both adults and children, at PCT and LA level. An MSOA level atlas is also available showing data from the NCMP.
Charts and maps can be exported from the e-Atlas for use in other documents. All data can be downloaded as an Excel file.

13. Prevalence of obesity by Local Authority
Year 6 children (age years) resident in London, NCMP 2009/10
Low prevalence
High prevalence
Child obesity: BMI ≥ 95th centile of the UK90 growth reference
© NOO 2011
This slide shows an example of obesity prevalence mapped at LA level – extracted directly from the e-Atlas.

14. Prevalence of obesity by Middle Super Output Area
Low prevalence
High prevalence
Insufficient data
less than 100 children measured
Prevalence of obesity by Middle Super Output Area
Year 6 children (age years) resident in London, NCMP 2007/ /10
Child obesity: BMI ≥ 95th centile of the UK90 growth reference
© NOO 2011
This slide shows an example of obesity prevalence mapped at MSOA level – extracted directly from the e-Atlas.
The MSOA atlas allows much more detailed examination of patterns of prevalence.
The MSOA atlas contains data from three years of NCMP measurements in order to maximise the number of child measurements used, and therefore provide more robust estimates.

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National Obesity
Observatory
noo.org.uk
© NOO 2011