Publication, Part of National Child Measurement Programme

National Child Measurement Programme, England 2019/20 School Year

Official statistics, National statistics

Publication Date:: 29 Oct 2020
Geographic Coverage:: England
Geographical Granularity:: Regions, Local Authorities

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Introduction

Summary

This report presents findings from the Government's National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) for England, 2019/20 school year.

It covers children in Reception (aged 4-5 years) and Year 6 (aged 10-11 years) in mainstream state-maintained schools in England.

The report contains analyses of Body Mass Index (BMI) classification rates by age, sex and ethnicity as well as geographic analyses.

The impacts of school closures in March 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic on the NCMP publication are included throughout this release.

In Reception, obesity prevalence has increased

9.7% in 2018-19 to 9.9% in 2019-20

In Year 6, obesity prevalence has increased

20.2% in 2018-19 to 21.0% in 2019-20

Boys have a higher obesity prevalence than girls for both age groups

In Reception, 10.1% of boys were obese compared to 9.7% of girls In Year 6, 23.6% of boys were obese compared to 18.4% of girls

Children living in the most deprived areas were more than twice as likely to be obese, than those living in the least deprived areas

13.3% of Reception children living in the most deprived areas were obese compared to 6.0% of those living in the least deprived areas. 27.5% of Year 6 children living in the most deprived areas were obese compared to 11.9% of those living in the least deprived areas.