National Child Measurement Programme

The National Child Measurement Programme annually weighs and measures children in reception year and year six in maintained schools in England. The programme began in 2005 and provides the most robust source of childhood obesity data in England.

Methodology: Measured height and weight classified using the ‘population monitoring’ thresholds of the 85th and 95th percentiles of the British 1990 growth reference population (UK90) to classify children as overweight or obese.(In clinical settings the 91st and 98th percentiles tend to be used.) Data on child's ethnicity and geography also collected.
Start date: 2005/6
Frequency of survey: Annually
Most recent return: 2008/9
Commissioned by: Department of Health
Data stored by: Information Centre
Coverage: GOR, LA, PCT, SOA
Caveats: Relies on good uptake rates and completion of ethnicity and postcode data fields.
Link to data source: NCMP on Information Centre website, NOO Child E-Atlas
Link to associated reports: National Child Measurement Programme: England 2008/9 school year

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