Measuring children and monitoring obesity: surveys of English Primary Care Trusts 2004–06

BACKGROUND: Child obesity has unclear determinants and consequences. A precautionary approach requires best-guess interventions and large-scale surveillance. This study was to determine the current measurement activities and the information systems required for child obesity surveillance. DESIGN: Questionnaire-based surveys. SETTING: Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and forty-seven (82%) PCTs in 2004 and 240 (79%) in 2006. MAIN MEASURES: Children's ages at which height and weight are routinely measured, the type of personnel taking the measurements, arrangements for recording data, information systems and uses of the data. RESULTS: PCTs measure height/length and weight most commonly at 6 weeks (74%) and 5 years (74%)-also at 6-12 months (58%), 1.5-2.5 years (50%), 2.5-4 years (40%), 11 years (18%) and 7 years (11%). Seventy-seven per cent of PCTs transferred the measurements to a database-26 different information systems were named. Six per cent of PCTs in 2004, rising to 34% in 2006, used the data to produce public health reports. CONCLUSIONS: Body mass index (BMI) surveillance requires new arrangements in 25% of PCTs at school entry and 80% at transfer to senior school. Important aspects of child obesity surveillance not yet addressed are pre-school measurement, longitudinal assessment and the public health requirements of (child) electronic health records.