HC Deb 08 December 2003 vol 415 c303W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has collated on the average body mass index in England for each year since 1990. [141581]

Ms Rosie Winterton

Figures for average body mass index in England are available from the Health Survey for England from 1991, when the survey began, for adults and children and are shown in the table. Figures are not available for 1990.

Body mass index (BMI) by survey year and sex
BMI(kg/m2)
Men Women Boys1 Girls1
1991–922 25.7 25.4
1993 25.9 25.7
1994 26.0 25.8
1995 26.1 25.9 17.6 18.0
1996 26.3 26.0 17.7 18.0
1997 26.5 26.2 17.7 18.0
1998 26.5 26.4 17.7 18.2
1999 26.5 26.4 18.1 18.2
2000 26.8 26.6 17.9 18.4
2001 27.0 26.7 18.0 18.3
Bases
1991–922 3,114 3,430
1993 7,247 8,037
1994 6,795 7,884
1995 6,707 7,729 1,890 1,872
1996 6,997 8,064 2,098 1,978
1997 3,685 4,254 2,966 2,975
1998 6,600 7,730 1,908 1,811
1999 3,204 3,699 946 920
2000 3,260 3,703 848 812
2001 6,267 7,414 1,555 1,587
1The Health Survey for England collected data on children only from 1995 for children.
2The sample sizes in 1991 and 1992 were smaller than in subsequent years and for reporting purposes the estimates from both years were combined.

Note:

Figures for men and women are for ages 16 and over. For children, ages are 2–15, except 2001, which is 0–15.

Source:

Health Survey for England, Department of Health.

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