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National Child Measurement Programme

Guidance, data and analysis on the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) in England.

From:
Department of Health and Social Care
Published:
27 August 2013
Last updated:
3 November 2026 — See all updates

The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) is a nationally mandated public health programme in England. It measures the height and weight of children to monitor patterns and trends in underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obesity.

The data is used nationally and locally to support action on healthy growth and weight in children. The obesity, physical activity and nutrition profile uses data from the NCMP to show prevalence for each body mass index (BMI) category across various geographic areas in England.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) provides strategic leadership and support for the programme, which is carried out by local councils. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, in DHSC, leads the analysis and reporting of NCMP data.

Guidance for local authorities and schools

Latest NCMP annual report

Supporting information

Previous NCMP annual reports

Annual reports up to the 2023 to 2024 academic year were published by NHS England.

Other NCMP data and analysis reports

NCMP privacy notice

Obesity, physical activity and nutrition profile

The NCMP data in the Obesity, physical activity and nutrition profile includes:

  • prevalence of underweight, healthy weight, overweight, obesity and severe obesity at upper and lower-tier local authority, integrated care board, region and England level over time
  • trend data for the prevalence of overweight (excluding obesity) and obesity for middle super output areas and electoral wards

Data is also presented for inequalities in child obesity prevalence by sex, deprivation and ethnic group for England, regions and local council areas.

Slide packs with the latest NCMP data are available to download for upper tier local authorities, regions and England.

Updates to this page

Last updated:
3 November 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated to add the 'National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) annual report, academic year 2025 to 2026, England' and supporting methodology and data quality statement.

  2. Added 'Children and young people physical activity data, February 2026' to the collection page.

  3. Added 'National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) annual report, academic year 2024 to 2025, England' to the collection page.

  4. Collection page restructured. Two sections renamed and documents reorganised. Older 'Obesity profile' updates and NCMP statistical publications from 2017 to 2020 removed.

  5. Added 'National Child Measurement Programme: information for schools' and 'National Child Measurement Programme: privacy notice'

  6. Added 'National child measurement programme (NCMP): changes in child BMI between 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021' to the section 'NCMP and Child Obesity profile data updates'.

  7. Added 'Changes in the body mass index (BMI) category of children between the first and final years of primary school, 2023 to 2024' to the collection page.

  8. Added 'Obesity profile: February 2025 update' to the collection page.

  9. Added 'Obesity Profile: November 2024 update' to the collection page.

  10. Added 'Update to the Obesity Profile on Fingertips' to the collection page.

  11. Added 'Obesity Profile: November 2023 update' to the collection.

  12. Added 'Height by deprivation decile in children aged 10 to 11: April 2023 update' to the collection page.

  13. Added 'Analysis of NCMP data using WHO growth standards: 2021 to 2022' to the data and analysis section.

  14. Added 'Obesity Profile: update of adult and child obesity slide packs February 2023'.

  15. Added 'Obesity Profile: December 2022 update' to the collection page.

  16. Added Obesity Profile: December 2020 update.

  17. Added: 'Child obesity: patterns and trends'.

  18. Added 'NCMP and Child Obesity Profile: academic year 2018 to 2019 update'.

  19. Added documents to 'NCMP and Child Obesity profile data updates' section.

  20. Added 'National Child Measurement Programme: conversation framework' to the 'Guidance for local authorities' section.

  21. Added Data and analysis - Obesity, diet and physical activity link.

  22. Added trends in child BMI report.

  23. Added guidance for data sharing.

  24. The 'National Child Measurement programme: briefing for elected members' has been added.

  25. May publication applies to the 2014 to 2015 school year. No change to document.

  26. Revised operational guidance added

  27. The publication 'National Child Measurement Programme: summary of nutrition and healthy weight regional events 2013' was added to the document collection.

  28. Added schools guidance as a standalone document.

  29. Added publication 'National Child Measurement Programme 2013 to 2014: information for schools'.

  30. First published.

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