Healthy Weight - Children

Overweight describes a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to an extent that health may be impaired. This is an important issue for Walsall because our population has become increasingly overweight in recent times.

There is a growing evidence base linking excess weight in adults to a higher chance of serious health problems and decreased life expectancy. There is also evidence that obesity and overweight ‘tracks’ into adulthood – the main reason Public Health Specialists are so concerned about the increasing prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity.
 

Children

Around 1 in 5 Reception children (age 4-5 years) are overweight or obese, increasing to more than 1 in 3 in Year 6 (ages 10-11 years). Data on overweight and obesity in children are collected annually via the Walsall Child Measurement Programme.

There is no internationally accepted BMI-based classification system for children.  The UK 1990 growth reference charts, which give age and gender specific information, are commonly used to define overweight and obesity in children aged 4 years or over.

The 91st and 98th percentiles for overweight and obesity are recommended cut-off points for individual children and the 85th and 95th centiles are used when looking at population level data. For 0 to 4 year olds, UK-WHO (UK-World Health Organisation) charts were introduced in May 2009 (www.rcpch.ac.uk).

This problem will not be solved through health alone and we need a society-wide approach, requiring shared responsibility and commitment from local people, leisure, schools, transport, health and others to reverse what is now the social norm and culture for a large proportion of our society.

 

Childhood Obesity and Overweight Pathway

Download – Childhood Pathway v1/June 2011
  

In Walsall, there are two main services to help children and families manage their weight. Families can refer themselves to the services or might be referred by health professionals or even through school. These are Make it Count and Fun4Life. Please use the links on the right hand side to navigate.

 


Concerns about underweight children should be raised with the GP or through School Health. Currently, where there is a concern (e.g. by GP, School Health Nurse) about a child being underweight in Walsall, these are referred to the dietetics department at Walsall Manor Hospital.