National Child Measurement Programme 2017/18
Information for primary care practitioners for 2017/18 programme.
About the programme
The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) is an important tool to help tackle obesity in the population. As part of this programme, children in Reception year (aged 4–5 years) and Year 6 (10–11 years) have their height and weight measured during the school year.
Locally, Nottinghamshire County Council uses our NCMP data to monitor progress on the Public Health Outcomes Framework Indicator on Excess weight in Children ages 4-5 and 10-11 years, and to inform planning of services to promote healthy weight in childhood.
This year’s programme for Nottinghamshire County will commence in November 2017 and results will be fed back to parents or carers with the offer of information and advice, providing an opportunity for families to make lifestyle changes if they choose to.
How might you be involved?
We know that after receiving the feedback of NCMP results for their child, some parents visit their GP to discuss the findings. This information can help you to be prepared to respond to parents’ queries if they attend your practice, including how children’s weight status is determined.
How the NCMP results are calculated – body mass index (BMI) centiles
Each child’s NCMP result is based on a ‘BMI centile’, which provides information as to whether a child is a healthy weight for their height, age, and sex, according to standard growth charts. This is the approach recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for assessing whether a child is overweight or obese.
- The RCPCH growth charts can be downloaded here: http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/child-health/research-projects/uk-who-growth-charts/uk-growth-chart-resources-2-18-years/uk-2-18-yea
- An online BMI Centile calculator that accurately calculates child weight status is available here: www.nhs.uk/tools/pages/healthyweightcalculator.aspx
- A free NHS Choices iPhone app version of the calculator is available for download from the iTunes App Store.
Use of the charts, or the above electronic calculators, gives a BMI centile, which should be interpreted as follows:
|
Underweight |
Healthy weight |
Overweight (called ‘not within a healthy weight range’ in the result letter to parents) | Obese (called ‘not within a healthy weight range’ in the result letter to parents) |
| Below 2nd BMI
(children may be healthy at this BMI centile) |
Between 2nd and 90th BMI centile | Between 91st and 97th BMI centile | At or above 98th centile |
Local NCMP contact details
A contact number is available for parents if they wish to discuss the results further : call Sue Wetton/ Ellen Simpson, professional service leads for children and young people at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS FoundationTrust 01623 781822
Local Weight Management Services – ChangePoint
Weight management services are delivered by Everyone Health in Nottinghamshire. If you would like more information on healthy lifestyles for families, contact Changepoint on 03330 050092, email Changepoint@everyonehealth.co.uk or visit the website Everyone Health.
National resources
GP practices and healthcare professionals can use Change4Life’s free support materials and toolkits to promote positive lifestyle changes to children and families. Change4Life support materials can be ordered from DH Publications (www.orderline.dh.gov.uk).
Toolkits and some support materials can be downloaded from the Partners and Supporters area of the Change4Life website (register as a local supporter to receive regular updates): www.nhs.uk/change4life
You can encourage young families to sign up with Change4Life to receive free support and action plans (with games, wallcharts and puzzles) to help them eat well and move more.
Top tips for kids leaflet: http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/supporter-resources/downloads/292140_C4L_top_tips_acc.pdf
NCMP key findings
We now have ten years’ worth of high-quality data with which to monitor progress towards tackling obesity. Results from the past ten years can be viewed at: www.hscic.gov.uk/ncmp Data is used by local authorities to inform progress towards the Public Health Outcomes Framework Indicator on excess weight in children aged 4-5 and 10-11 years old, and to target resources to those most in need.
Nottinghamshire County Council Bulletin