Measuring children and monitoring obesity: surveys of English Primary Care Trusts 2004-06.
J Public Health (Oxf)
; 28(4): 330-6, 2006 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17074777
ABSTRACT
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. MAINMEASURES:
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.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Atenção Primária à Saúde
/
Medicina Estatal
/
Vigilância da População
/
Obesidade
Tipo de estudo:
Screening_studies
Limite:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2006
Tipo de documento:
Article