HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 cc1132-3W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average body mass index in(a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority for each of the last 10 years. [138191]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Figures available from the Health Survey for England are set out in the table. For those respondents with a valid height and weight measurement from which the body mass index could be calculated, it gives the average body mass index by Government Office Region for the period 1998–2001. Figures prior to 1998 are not available by Government Office Region. Care should be taken in interpreting trends in children's body mass index because of small sample sizes.

Mean body mass index (BMI) by survey year, Government office region, age and sex BMI (kg/m2) 1998–2001
Government office regions
North East North West Yorkshire and the Humber West Midlands East Midlands East of England London South East South West England
Boys
1998 87 267 161 175 154 186 210 250 178 1,668
1999 57 123 83 76 74 105 103 130 76 827
2000 58 106 115 98 65 107 87 117 86 839
2001 124 216 155 193 155 180 145 207 157 1,532
Girls
1998 86 264 190 139 151 185 187 234 151 1,587
1999 41 110 66 100 82 85 85 113 83 765
2000 47 111 94 111 73 89 101 120 72 818
2001 111 214 157 192 170 188 179 215 166 1,592

Note

Figures prior to 1998 not available by Government office region.

Source

Health Survey for England, Department of Health.