Information, guidance and resources about encouraging healthy weight in schools.
These resources may help if you're completing our:
- food environment specialist award
- physical activity specialist award
- other healthy schools awards
Obesity
Tackling obesity is complex as there are many causes for it, including societal, cultural, environmental, economic and behavioral.
At its most basic explanation, obesity is caused by taking in more energy through food than we use through activity.
Being obese as a child makes it more likely to be obese as an adult. According to the NHS, obesity in adults increases risk of Go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/ (opens new window):
- diabetes
- heart disease
- stroke
- some types of cancer
National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP)
The NCMP Go to (opens new window) measures the height and weight of children in reception (4 to 5 year olds) and in year 6 (10 to 11 year olds) to work out what proportion are overweight or obese.
This data is used:
- at a national level, to inform public health planning
- at a local level, to inform planning and delivery of services for local children
| Percentile | Weight range |
|---|---|
| 2nd percentile or below | Underweight |
| 3rd to 84th percentile | Healthy weight |
| 85th to 94th percentile | Overweight |
| 95th percentile and above | Obese |
In Bristol, 2016/17 NCMP data shows that:
- over a fifth of reception children were recorded as overweight or obese
- a third of year 6 children were recorded as overweight or obese
Read more information on the NHS child measurement page Go to https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/childhealth1-5/Pages/ChildMeasurement.aspx (opens new window).
According to the 2011 Cochrane review Go to http://www.cochrane.org/CD001871/PUBHLTH_interventions-for-preventing-obesity-in-children (opens new window), childhood obesity prevention research should focus on identifying how we can use interventions within health, education and care systems, to achieve long term, sustainable results. This includes schools.
The Government national childhood obesity strategy
The Government released the national childhood obesity strategy Go to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action (opens new window) in 2016 and updated it in 2017. The strategy states:
“Today nearly a third of children aged 2 to 15 are overweight or obese and younger generations are becoming obese at earlier ages and staying obese for longer. Reducing obesity levels will save lives as obesity doubles the risk of dying prematurely.
The burden is falling hardest on those children from low-income backgrounds. Obesity rates are highest for children from the most deprived areas and this is getting worse. Children aged 5 and from the poorest income groups are twice as likely to be obese compared to their most well off counterparts and by age 11 they are three times as likely.”
The strategy recommends schools should:
- help all children to have an hour of physical activity every day
- improve the provision of sport and physical activity programmes
- make school food healthier
How schools can tackle childhood obesity
Reducing childhood obesity is a national and local Public Health priority. Schools play an especially important role in tackling childhood obesity.
Practical steps, highlighted by the 2011 Cochrane review, include:
- a school curriculum that includes healthy eating, physical activity and talking about body image
- more sessions for physical activity and the development of fundamental movement skills throughout the school week
- improvements in nutritional quality of the food offered in schools
- offering environments and encouraging habits that support children eating healthier foods and being active throughout the day
- support for teachers and other staff to implement health promotion strategies and activities
- parent support and home activities that encourage children to be more active, eat more nutritious foods and spend less time online, on their phones, or watching television
School healthy weight resources
Public Health England resources on:
- creating a healthy, active school culture Go to https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/schools/topics/our-healthy-year/overview (opens new window)
- healthy eating Go to https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/schools/topics/healthy-eating/overview (opens new window)
- being active Go to https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/schools/topics/being-active/overview (opens new window)
On our Healthy Schools topic pages, you can find resources and advice on: