§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the changes in the last five years in the average weight and height of schoolchildren in England and Wales; and if he will list the changes in the last five years in the (i) consumption of(a) dietary carbohydrate and (b) refined sugar products and (ii) total calorie intake and average levels of exercise of schoolchildren. [78135]
§ Ms JowellThe 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 the 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 and on the same basis for comparison purposes with NSHG for 1995–97 combined.
Heights and weights for children aged 11 to 15 years in 1995, 1996 are given, along with the data for 1995–97 combined, which are the baseline from which changes will be monitored.
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Average weights (kilogrammes) of English primary schoolchildren Age at last birthday National Study of Health and Growth Health Survey for England (years) 1994 1995 1996 1995–97 Boys 5 19.8 20.5 20.1 19.7 6 22.1 22.4 23.1 22.3 7 24.8 25.4 26.0 25.1 8 27.7 29.1 28.8 28.4 9 31.4 32.4 32.1 31.1 10 34.8 35.0 35.9 34.7 Girls 5 19.3 20.6 20.5 19.6 6 22.0 22.7 22.6 22.2 7 24.9 26.0 26.0 25.2 8 27.7 29.3 28.1 28.4 9 31.9 31.9 33.5 31.9 10 35.5 38.3 36.9 36.6
Average heights (centimetres) of English primary schoolchildren Age at last birthday National Study of Health and Growth Health Survey for England (years) 1994 1995 19961 1995–97 Boys 5 112.8 112.4 112 112.1 6 116.9 118.5 119 118.9 7 124.9 125.0 125 124.9 8 130.6 131.1 131 131.0 9 136.8 136.1 136 135.8 10 141.2 140.7 141 141.9 Girls 5 111.3 112.6 112 111.7 6 118.3 118.5 117 118.1 7 124.3 123.4 125 124.0 8 129.6 129.8 130 129.8 9 135.5 135.3 136 135.8 10 141.3 142.5 142 142.0 1 Only rounded data available for 1996
Heights and weights of English children aged 11–15 years Health Survey for England Age at last birthday Weight (kg) Height (cm) (years) 1995 1996 1995–97 1995 19961 1995–97 Boys 11 40.9 40.1 40.2 147.4 147 147.3 12 44.8 44.9 44.8 153.3 152 152.6 13 51.6 50.1 50.8 161.5 159 159.7 14 57.0 56.4 56.4 166.4 165 165.6 15 62.6 62.3 62.9 172.4 172 172.0 Girls 11 28.8 42.0 42.4 147.7 148 148.1 12 35.0 49.1 47.5 153.5 154 153.9 13 37.8 51.1 51.8 157.8 158 157.9 14 40.8 56.4 56.7 161.6 161 161.1 15 43.7 57.7 58.4 162.7 161 162.4 1 Only rounded data available for 1996 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 '95–'97". In Wales, the Youth Health Surveys are 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.