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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Low turnout for obesity testing | Low turnout for obesity testing |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Just half of children have taken part in a national programme to test whether five and 11-year-olds are overweight. | Just half of children have taken part in a national programme to test whether five and 11-year-olds are overweight. |
| Some 48% of children starting and finishing primary school have been weighed in the last year - despite the original plan to weigh every child. | Some 48% of children starting and finishing primary school have been weighed in the last year - despite the original plan to weigh every child. |
| The figures revealed by the Association of Public Health Observatories said it was likely heavier children opted out of the tests, as they were voluntary. | The figures revealed by the Association of Public Health Observatories said it was likely heavier children opted out of the tests, as they were voluntary. |
| Campaigners branded the exercise a "waste of time". | Campaigners branded the exercise a "waste of time". |
| It was designed to gather information, not to offer overweight children support, but the government still the outcome disappointing. | It was designed to gather information, not to offer overweight children support, but the government still the outcome disappointing. |
| We fully intend to continue with weighing and measuring for the National Childhood Database Caroline Flint, public health minister | We fully intend to continue with weighing and measuring for the National Childhood Database Caroline Flint, public health minister |
| One of the main problems identified in the report published today was that children could opt out of being weighed. | One of the main problems identified in the report published today was that children could opt out of being weighed. |
| It said: "The first year of data collection has been hampered by a number of practical difficulties. | It said: "The first year of data collection has been hampered by a number of practical difficulties. |
| "These have had a significant impact on data quality and seriously limit the reliability of the results for this year, as a result of which many of the figures in this report need to be treated with considerable caution. | "These have had a significant impact on data quality and seriously limit the reliability of the results for this year, as a result of which many of the figures in this report need to be treated with considerable caution. |
| "There is anecdotal evidence of higher rates of opting out of the measurement process among heavier children, which is supported by the findings of this analysis. | "There is anecdotal evidence of higher rates of opting out of the measurement process among heavier children, which is supported by the findings of this analysis. |
| "This means the figures obtained from the database are likely systematically to underestimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity." | "This means the figures obtained from the database are likely systematically to underestimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity." |
| Tam Fry, board member of the National Obesity Forum, said the exercise had been a "waste of time". | Tam Fry, board member of the National Obesity Forum, said the exercise had been a "waste of time". |
| Response | Response |
| The report said 538,400 children in both years were measured - about 48% of those eligible. | The report said 538,400 children in both years were measured - about 48% of those eligible. |
| In all, 80% of primary care trusts returned some data on schools in their area but response rates "varied widely across England". | In all, 80% of primary care trusts returned some data on schools in their area but response rates "varied widely across England". |
| It warned that an analysis strongly suggested the results "significantly underestimate the prevalence of childhood obesity". | It warned that an analysis strongly suggested the results "significantly underestimate the prevalence of childhood obesity". |
| Of those children that were measured, 12.3% of girls and 13.4% of boys in the reception year were found to be overweight and 9.2% of boys and 10.7% of girls were obese. | Of those children that were measured, 12.3% of girls and 13.4% of boys in the reception year were found to be overweight and 9.2% of boys and 10.7% of girls were obese. |
| In Year six, 13.8% of boys and girls were overweight and 15.4% of girls and 18.9% of boys were obese. | In Year six, 13.8% of boys and girls were overweight and 15.4% of girls and 18.9% of boys were obese. |
| Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said the low response rate was "disappointing especially when where there has been a good response rate, the exercise has galvanised local services into action". | Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said the low response rate was "disappointing especially when where there has been a good response rate, the exercise has galvanised local services into action". |
| But she added: "We fully intend to continue with weighing and measuring for the National Childhood Database." | But she added: "We fully intend to continue with weighing and measuring for the National Childhood Database." |
| Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: "It is unsurprising that this ill-thought out idea hasn¿t worked. | |
| "National monitoring where schools single out the very overweight alienates the very children it is meant to help. | |
| "Many will see it as a form of humiliation amongst their peers rather than a way of helping them. | |
| "Creating a database will also be of little effect if GPs are not given the money to actually tackle the problem." |