title: Measuring children and monitoring obesity: surveys of English Primary Care Trusts 2004-06.
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.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire-based surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and forty-seven (82%) PCTs in 2004 and 240 (79%) in 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jarvis
authors.forename: Arpana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Buchan
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012572:School Health Services; D013222:State Medicine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires