Physical activity in the Active People Survey: developing an indicator that includes walking and cycling for transport

This paper describes analysis of the Sport England Active People Survey to calculate the percentage of adults that participate in moderate intensity physical activity, for 30 minutes or more on at least three and five days per week that includes walking and cycling for transport.

The data are presented separately in the form of an interactive mapping and analysis tool (e-atlas), on the NOO website. The data are presented in both the adult single map e-atlas, and the adult dual map e-atlas.

Treating childhood obesity through lifestyle change interventions. A briefing paper for commissioners

This briefing paper aims to support commissioners by providing a brief guide to current best available evidence on effective treatment interventions for children and young people who are overweight or obese.

Preventing childhood obesity through lifestyle change interventions. A briefing paper for commissioners

This briefing paper aims to support commissioners by providing a brief guide to current best available evidence on effective treatment interventions for children and young people who are overweight or obese.

Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: Market Segmentation and Mapping

The 'Healthy Weight Healthy Lives: Consumer Insight Summary', published in November 2008, describes market research into families' attitudes and behaviours relating to diet and physical activity and looks at how families can be grouped into six clusters. This work was commissioned in order to inform the development of the national Change4Life campaign.

Follow-on work was subsequently undertaken to produce a more detailed geographical mapping of the identified clusters. This briefing note aims to summarise the geodemographic segmentation approach and give guidance on the appropriate use of the cluster postcode directories and maps.

Measures of central adiposity as an indicator of obesity

High levels of central adiposity in adults are known to be associated with increased risk of obesity-related conditions including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Although measures of central adiposity are closely correlated with BMI, they have been shown to predict future ill health independently of BMI.

International comparisons of obesity prevalence

The purpose of this paper is to provide a single resource for international comparisons of obesity prevalence focused on the United Kingdom (UK) and to inform the debate on trends in adult and childhood obesity levels within the UK by providing a global comparison.

Body Mass Index as a measure of obesity

This Q and A style briefing paper provides an overview of the use of Body Mass Index for the measurement of obesity.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in metres. It is one of the most commonly used ways of estimating whether a person is overweight and hence more likely to experience health problems than someone with a healthy weight. It is also used to measure population prevalence of overweight and obesity. It is also a relatively easy, cheap and non-invasive method for establishing weight status. However, BMI is only a proxy for body fatness. Other factors such as fitness, ethnic origin and puberty can alter the relation between BMI and body fatness and must be taken into consideration. Other measurements such as waist circumference and skin thickness can be collected to indicate a person’s weight status or body fatness. None of these is as widely used as BMI.

Physical activity surveillance in England: what is measured and where are the gaps?

This paper aims to identify and describe the main sources of national-level surveillance data on physical activity in adults and children in England, in order to identify any important gaps. This is distinct from the measurement of physical activity at a local level in order to evaluate the impact of specific interventions or for local needs assessments. The paper focuses on data on the population prevalence of physical activity, but also includes key sources of available data on determinants of physical activity (such as characteristics of the built environment).

Standard Evaluation Framework for weight management interventions

The aim of the SEF is to support high quality, consistent evaluation of weight management interventions in order to increase the evidence base.

The SEF provides introductory guidance on the principles of evaluation, and lists ‘essential’ and ‘desirable’ criteria. Essential criteria are presented as the minimum recommended data for evaluating a weight management intervention. Desirable criteria are additional data that would enhance the evaluation. The supporting guidance describes why particular criteria have been categorised as essential or desirable, and gives further information on collecting data.

National Child Measurement Programme: Detailed Analysis of the 2007/08 Dataset

This report presents detailed secondary analyses to further our understanding of the epidemiology of child height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) across England. It attempts to explain some of the findings presented in the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care 2007/08 NCMP report.

The report provides analysis of PCT participation levels and investigates data quality issues in the collection of the 2007/08 NCMP dataset. Data on prevalence of underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obesity are analysed, comparing the 2007/08 data to the 2006/07, and the 1990 baseline

May 2009 Newsletter

NOO Newsletter May 2009

2007/08 NCMP analysis guidance for PCTs and public health observatories (PHOs) - December 2008

The 2007/08 NCMP analysis guidance for PCTs and public health observatories (PHOs) provides information on further analyses that may be undertaken on the 2007/08 National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) dataset in order to:

• produce a regional or local overview of the data;
• obtain a better understanding of the epidemiology of child obesity and overweight within their area;
• feed back useful information to PCTs, school nursing teams, schools, or other partners, ensuring confidentiality of the data;
• help improve participation and data quality in the 2008/09 NCMP.

Further analysis of the NCMP 2007/08 dataset is optional. This guidance is designed to support those PHOs and PCTs that wish to undertake additional investigation of the data.

November 2008 Newsletter

NOO Newsletter November 2008

National Child Measurement Programme: Detailed Analysis of the 2006/07 National Dataset

This report, entitled National Child Measurement Programme: Detailed Analysis of the 2006/07 National Dataset, highlights the usefulness of the NCMP for advancing our understanding of underweight, overweight and obesity in children. The report looks at the effects of socio-demographic and other factors on the reported prevalence of childhood obesity. It also identifies areas where improvements can be made, and where further analysis and investigation are required.

Healthy Towns

An expert stakeholder meeting was held in Oxford to discuss the Healthy Community Challenge fund on 18 June 2008. The objective of the meeting was to discuss how to maximise the benefits from the programme of work created by the fund.

NCMP guidance for public health observatories (PHOs) - May 2008

The NCMP guidance for public health observatories (PHOs) provides information on further analyses that may be undertaken on the 2006/07 National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) dataset in order to:

• produce a regional overview of the data
• obtain a better understanding of the epidemiology of child obesity and overweight within their area
• feed back useful information to PCTs
• help improve participation and data quality in the 2007/08 NCMP.

Further analysis of the NCMP 2006/07 dataset is optional. This guidance is designed to support observatories that wish to undertake additional investigation of the data.