Nhs choices children's bmi calculator how to#

Children identified as very overweight are more likely to be ill, be absent from school due to illness, experience health-related limitations and require more medical care than children identified as a healthy weight. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities ( OHID) encourages all conversations and correspondence with parents in relation to their child’s weight status to use the more acceptable term ‘very overweight’ instead. While the use of the word obese is a clinical classification, the sensitivity and stigma around using this term is acknowledged. The term ‘very overweight’ refers to the clinical weight status ‘obese’. There are significant inequalities in terms of very overweight prevalence in children from the most deprived compared with least deprived areas, and between different children from different ethnic groups.

More than 1 in 5 children aged 4 to 5 years and more than 1 in 3 aged 10 to 11 years are overweight or obese (22.3% and 37.8% respectively). Though the 2021 to 2022 NCMP annual report showed a decrease in child obesity prevalence in 2021 to 2022 compared to 2020 to 2021, prevalence remains higher than any year prior to the pandemic (2006 to 2007, to 2019 to 2020). The overall change in prevalence levels has also been relatively small each year, with the exception of the unprecedented rise seen in the 2020 to 2021 NCMP annual report which showed an increase of around 4.5%. It also provides the opportunity to raise parents’ awareness of overweight and obesity, its consequences and healthy lifestyle choices.Īlthough most children in reception and year 6 are a healthy weight, the NCMP data consistently shows that prevalence of obesity doubles between reception year and year 6 (from around 10% to around 20%). This guidance provides information for school leaders, staff and governing bodies on key tasks that schools can help with to ensure the programme runs smoothly.ĭelivering the NCMP provides vital information that enables local authorities and their partners to plan for and invest in key services to tackle obesity and its wider determinants. Support from schools is crucial to delivering the NCMP. Over 99% (17,000) of eligible state-maintained schools across England, including academies, usually participate in the NCMP. The National Child Measurement Programme ( NCMP), also known as the School Height and Weight Checks, is a mandated annual programme delivered by local authorities, which involves measuring the height and weight of all school children in reception and year 6. Please seek further advice from your GP.Produced by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, part of the Department of Health and Social Care. If you're suffering from an eating disorder, the BMI calculator results do not apply. Your can use your BMI result as a starting point for further discussion with your GP about your weight and your general health.įind out more in How your GP can help and check out the Change4Life website for practical tips on staying healthy as a family. However, the BMI is a relatively straightforward and convenient method of assessing someone's weight.

adults who lose muscle as they get older may fall in the 'healthy weight' range even though they may be carrying excess fat.

very muscular adults and athletes may be classed 'overweight' or 'obese' even though their body fat is low.

The adult BMI does not take into account age, gender or muscle mass. The BMI can't tell the difference between excess fat, muscle, or bone. Your BMI can tell you if you're carrying too much weight but it can't tell if you're carrying too much fat. If you're concerned about your child's weight, contact your GP who may be able to refer you to your local healthy lifestyle programme for children, young people and families. Measuring waist size is not routinely advised for children because it doesn't take their height into account. For example, a girl on the 75th centile is heavier than 75 out of 100 other girls her age.

Find out more in very overweight childrenĪ child's BMI is expressed as a 'centile' to show how their BMI compares to children who took part in national surveys. If you're concerned about your child's weight, see your GP.

Nhs choices children's bmi calculator how to#

Get tips on how to encourage your child to be more active and eat well

healthy weight: between the 2nd and 91st centiles.

underweight: on the 2nd centile or below.

The BMI calculator works out if a child or young person is: Obese children are thought to be at increased risk of a variety of health conditions, and they're also more likely to be overweight or obese as adults. For children and young people aged two to 18, the BMI calculator takes into account age and gender as well as height and weight.