Thursday 22 June 2017
The School Nursing staff team recently completed their fifth round of in-school measurements for the Guernsey Child Measurement Programme, working in partnership with colleagues from Education Services and local schools, including Alderney.
As in previous years the programme benefited from high participation, with 94% of children taking part.
The findings of the 2017 programme are now available. The results show that in Guernsey and Alderney (combined):
- Among Year 1s (children aged 5 and 6) 15% (over one in seven) of measured children were overweight or obese
- Among Year 5s (children aged 9 and 10) 30% (more than one in four) of measured children were overweight or obese
- In real terms 279 children were found to be overweight or obese across the two year groups
- Participation was high at 94% (the rest were absent, opted out or unavailable due to other appointments and engagements on the day)
- Feedback was requested by parents for 27% of eligible children
To calculate their weight status each child was weighed and had their height measured by the Specialist School Nurse for Weight Management. Analysis of the anonymous results was then conducted by the Public Health Intelligence team. They concluded that:
- Between 2013 and 2014, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased in both year groups. In 2015 no further increase was seen and the results returned, very closely, to 2013 levels. Results from the 2016 measurement round show a slight increase from 2015 levels in both year groups, whereas, in 2017, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was slightly lower for both measured year groups.
- Overall there is no evidence of a directional change in the levels of excess weight among children; rather the prevalence of overweight and obesity appears to be stable year to year within each Year group and to double between Years 1 and 5.
- The doubling is demonstrated directly in the current results, as the Year 1 cohort from the first round of measurement in 2013 have now re-appeared in the programme as the Year 5 cohort measured in 2017. Assuming that this cohort has been relatively stable over time, with little significant movement of children in or out of the cohort, this tells us that overweight and obesity has almost doubled in the same group of children in the space of five years (from 15.5% in 2013 to 30.2% in 2017, Figure 1).
Acting Director of Public Health, Dr Nicola Brink, said of the findings:
"I am very encouraged by the high rate of participation of 94% in this important initiative. However, these results - with 15% of Year 1 pupils, doubling to 30% of Year 5 pupils, falling into the overweight or obese categories - emphasise the need for action through the Healthy Weight Strategy and other important States' and community-based initiatives. This is of fundamental importance to the future health and wellbeing of Islanders, as reducing obesity will save lives".
It is recognised that there are a range of causes involved in the development of obesity, including biological, societal, environmental and economic drivers. No single intervention will be sufficient to address the problem so there needs to be a mix of preventative and management activities involving all levels from government to individual actions.
The States approved the Healthy Weight Strategy in March 2016, actions under which are co-ordinated with the Children and Young People's Plan, amongst others.
The range of actions currently under way involves a broad number of States Committees, including Health and Social Care, Education, Sport and Culture, Environment and Infrastructure and Policy and Resources, together with third sector bodies, private companies and public engagement.
A Shadow Board to coordinate the delivery of the Healthy Weight Strategy, with representation from Policy & Resources, Health & Social Care and the Community Foundation, has also been established and proposals put forward.
Further information on the Healthy Weight Strategy is available from the Health Promotion Unit, Public Health Services, tel: 707311
