Schoolchildren (Hansard, 22 April 1999)

§ Ms Jowell

[pursuant to her reply, 26 March 1999, c. 424–25]I regret that my previous answer contained 643W incorrect information for 1995 for the weight of girls aged 11–15. I am also now in a position to provide the information on heights and weights for 1997 separately. The revised reply is as follows:

The heights and weights of primary schoolchildren were monitored in England between 1972 and 1994 by the National Study of Health and Growth (NSHG). No similar information is available for Wales. In 1995, the Health Survey for England (HSE) took over the monitoring of heights and weights of children and also measured their physical activity in 1997. The data for 1995 and 1996 were published in HSE Reports and the combined data for 1995–97 were published in December 1998 in the Report "The Health of Young People ' 95–' 97".

The tables give heights and weights for 5 to 10 year olds for 1994 from NSHG and from HSE for 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1995–97 combined and on the same basis for comparison purposes with NSHG for 1995–97 combined.

Average weights (kilogrammes) of English primary schoolchildren
	Health Survey for England
Age at last birthday (years)	National Study of Health and Growth 1994¹	Health Survey for England 1995–97¹	1995	1996	1997	1995–97
Boys
5	19.8	19.7	20.5	20.1	20.6	20.4
6	22.1	22.3	22.4	23.1	23.1	22.9
7	24.8	25.1	25.4	26.0	25.7	25.8
8	27.7	28.4	29.1	28.8	29.4	29.1
9	31.4	31.1	32.4	32.1	31.6	32.0
10	34.8	34.7	35.0	35.9	35.7	35.6
Girls
5	19.3	19.6	20.6	20.5	20.1	20.4
6	22.0	22.2	22.7	22.6	23.1	22.8
7	24.9	25.2	26.0	26.0	25.6	25.9
8	27.7	28.4	29.3	28.1	29.2	28.8
9	31.9	31.9	31.9	33.5	32.9	32.7
10	35.5	36.6	38.3	36.9	36.3	37.1
¹White children only

Average heights (centimetres) of English primary schoolchildren
	Health Survey for England
Age at last birthday (years)	National Study for Health and Growth 1994¹	Health Survey for England 1995–97¹	1995	1996	1997	1995–97
Boys
5	113	112	112	112	112	112
6	119	119	119	119	119	119
7	125	125	125	125	125	125
8	131	131	131	131	131	131
9	137	136	136	136	136	136
10	141	141	141	141	142	141
Girls
5	111	112	113	112	112	112
6	118	118	119	117	119	118
7	124	124	123	125	124	124
8	130	130	130	130	130	130
9	136	136	135	136	136	136
10	141	142	143	142	141	142
¹White children only

644W

Heights and weights for children aged 11 to 15 years in 1995, 1996, and 1997 are given, along with the data for 1995–97 combined, which are the baseline from which changes will be monitored.

The extensive data on the types and levels of exercise among English schoolchildren in 1997 are given in tables 8.1 to 8.15 in the Report "The Health of Young People '96–'97". In Wales, the Youth Health Surveys carried out by Health Promotion Wales have shown that among 11 to 16 year olds, the proportion exercising for at least 4 hours per week outside school was 24 per cent. in 1994 and 29 per cent. in 1996.

There are no recent data on the consumption of dietary carbohydrate, refined sugar products, and total calorie intake of schoolchildren. However, fieldwork for the National Diet and Nutritional Survey of young people aged 4–18 years which covered Great Britain has been completed and the results are being analysed. This should provide data on all these factors and also on average levels of exercise. A report is expected at the end of this year.

645W

Heights and weights of English children aged 11–15 years Health Survey for England
	Weight (kg)		Height (cm)
Age at last birthday (years)	1995	1996	1997	1995–97	1995	1996	1997	1995–97
Boys
11	40.9	40.1	39.7	40.2	147	147	147	147
12	44.8	44.9	44.6	44.8	153	152	152	153
13	51.6	50.1	50.7	50.8	162	159	159	160
14	57.0	56.4	55.8	56.4	166	165	165	166
15	62.6	62.3	63.8	62.9	172	172	172	172
Girls
11	43.0	42.0	42.3	42.4	148	148	149	148
12	45.9	49.1	47.4	47.5	154	154	154	154
13	51.0	51.1	53.3	51.8	158	158	158	158
14	57.1	56.4	56.7	56.7	162	161	161	161
15	58.3	57.7	59.3	58.4	163	161	163	162