NW Public Health Observatory

Obesity – the sad reality!

The North West Public Health Observatory has published data taken from the ‘ north west child height and weight measurement survey 2007’.

Key Points

• All North West PCTs contributed data to the regional system in 2007, with a total sample of

62,322 reception year children and 58,252 year 6 children being measured.

• For reception year children:

Prevalence of obesity ranged from 6.1% (South Lakeland) to 17.2% (Ellesmere Port & Neston) for boys and from 4.6% (South Lakeland) to 13.1% (Knowsley) for girls.
Prevalence of obesity & overweight ranged from 16.3% (Chester) to 34.7% (St. Helens) for boys and from 14.1% (Congleton) to 31.7% (St. Helens) for girls.

• For year 6 children:

Prevalence of obesity ranged from 11.5% (Rossendale) to 26.0% (Ellsemere Port & Neston) for boys and from 8.3% (Chorley) to 21.6% ( Manchester) for girls.
Prevalence of obesity & overweight ranged from 22.7% (Burnley) to 39.6% (Crewe and Nantwich) for boys and from 21.5% ( Lancaster) to 38.8% (Ellesmere Port & Neston) for girls.

• There was a greater prevalence of obesity as deprivation increased in both age groups and both sexes, such that for:

Reception year, in the most deprived areas boys had 1.6 and girls had 1.8 times more obesity than those in the most affluent areas
Year 6, in the most deprived areas boys had 1.6 and girls had 1.7 times more obesity than those in the most affluent areas

• There was also a greater prevalence of obesity & overweight as deprivation increased in both age groups and both sexes, such that for:

Reception year, in the most deprived areas boys and girls had 1.3 times more obesity & overweight than those in the most affluent areas
Year 6, in the most deprived areas boys had 1.2 and girls had 1.4 times more obesity & overweight than those in the most affluent areas

If you would like a copy of the full and summary reports, email: iand@sportcheshire.org

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