Why is this important for my child?
The NCMP supports families to help children to maintain healthy weight and growth and like you, we want the best for your child.
The Body Mass Index measure used by professionals is a good way of finding out whether a child is a healthy weight. By comparing your child’s weight with their age, height and sex, we can tell whether they’re growing as expected.
This is something you may have had done when your child was a baby, using the Personal Child Health Record (red book).
Once your child’s BMI has been calculated, they’ll be in 1 of 4 categories:
- Underweight
- Healthy weight
- Overweight
- Very overweight
Please note, parents/carers of those children who fall into the Very overweight category will receive a call from the school nursing team to discuss what support is available to them.
We acknowledge NCMP is a measurement taken at one point in time. There are numerous health benefits to consider regarding children when they are growing. Not only is a healthy weight important for their development but factors such as how strong their bones and teeth are, whether they have good sleep habits, what their attention, concentration and memory is like are all factors when we talk about the health of a child.
Current picture in Buckinghamshire
About 1 in 5 children in reception are overweight or very overweight, rising to 1 in 3 in year 6.
Because the number of overweight children has gradually increased, we’ve slowly become used to it.
It can be difficult to tell if your child’s above a healthy weight as they may look similar to other children of their age. By recording their measurements we can get an accurate picture.
Research shows that if your child is above a healthy weight now, they’re more likely to be above a healthy weight as an adult, which can lead to health problems in later life.
This measurement is an important way of checking how your child’s growing.
What happens if I am told my child is Overweight?
We understand that receiving the results can result in a number of emotions arising. Some parents may approach the results rationally and become motivated through gaining awareness to make positive changes.
However, we appreciate that some may have an emotional response and feel shock, denial, confusion, guilt, shame, fear and/or anger at the results received.
Please know the programme is not done to criticize your parenting, nor to get a negative response from you. It is hoped that with the results, the right information, advice and support is made available so that focus can be put into the health and wellbeing of your child, through increasing your knowledge, confidence and motivation.
Last reviewed: 16/09/2024