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In his article on childhood obesity and child protection 1 Viner
quotes a figure of 37% of looked after children being either overweight or
obese from a study by Hadfield and Preece2 .
We have compared BMI data for reception and year 6 children for
looked after children with data for Manchester children in the same year
groups and found that a smaller proportion of looked after children were
overweight or obese compared with their peers, both within Manchester ,
the North West and England.
For a group of 77 looked after children for 2008/9 , 32 in reception
and 45 in year 6. Figures(%) given for LAC only. Local and National data
comparisions (%)
BMI calculated as wt/height2 and BMI centiles from UK 90 charts3
At reception only 12.5 % of looked after children were overweight and
none were obese compared with 26% of Manchester children who were
overweight or obese. By year 6 15 % of looked after children were
overweight or obese compared with 37% of Manchester children
This data was examined retrospectively and gives no indication of the
length of time spent in care and so we are unable to comment about any
change in BMI during an episode of care. For the year ending March 31st
2009 70.5% of the children entering care in Manchester did so because of
abuse or neglect( National Indicator figures from local authority data)
It does not appear from our data (2008/9) that this abuse or neglect has
resulted in a population of looked after children who are more likely to
be overweight or obese than their peer group.
Caroline Willey Associate Specialist Paediatrician, Named Doctor for
LAC, Manchester NHS caroline.willey@manchester.nhs.uk
Therese Bennett Associate Specialist Paediatrician, Manchester NHS
Jane Hardy Consultant Paediatrician, Designated Doctor for LAC,
Manchester NHS
1. Viner R,Roche E, Maguire S, Nicholls D When does childhood obesity
become a child protection issue? BMJ 2010; 341c3074
2. Hadfield SC, Preece PM Obesity in looked after children: Is foster care
protective from the dangers of obesity?Child Care Health Dev 2008;34:710-
12
3. Cole TJ, Freeman JV, Preece MA; Body mass index reference curves for
the UK, 1990. Arch Dis Child. 1995 Jul;73(1):25-9.
Children in Public care are no more likely to be overweight than their peer group
In his article on childhood obesity and child protection 1 Viner
quotes a figure of 37% of looked after children being either overweight or
obese from a study by Hadfield and Preece2 .
We have compared BMI data for reception and year 6 children for
looked after children with data for Manchester children in the same year
groups and found that a smaller proportion of looked after children were
overweight or obese compared with their peers, both within Manchester ,
the North West and England.
For a group of 77 looked after children for 2008/9 , 32 in reception
and 45 in year 6. Figures(%) given for LAC only. Local and National data
comparisions (%)
UW= underweight (BMI <_2nd centile="centile" nw="normal" weight="weight" bmi="bmi" _2nd-="_2nd-" _91st="_91st" ow="overweight" _="_" bmi91st-98th="bmi91st-98th" ob="obese"/> 98th centile)
BMI calculated as wt/height2 and BMI centiles from UK 90 charts3
At reception only 12.5 % of looked after children were overweight and
none were obese compared with 26% of Manchester children who were
overweight or obese. By year 6 15 % of looked after children were
overweight or obese compared with 37% of Manchester children
This data was examined retrospectively and gives no indication of the
length of time spent in care and so we are unable to comment about any
change in BMI during an episode of care. For the year ending March 31st
2009 70.5% of the children entering care in Manchester did so because of
abuse or neglect( National Indicator figures from local authority data)
It does not appear from our data (2008/9) that this abuse or neglect has
resulted in a population of looked after children who are more likely to
be overweight or obese than their peer group.
Caroline Willey
Associate Specialist Paediatrician, Named Doctor for
LAC, Manchester NHS
caroline.willey@manchester.nhs.uk
Therese Bennett Associate Specialist Paediatrician, Manchester NHS
Jane Hardy
Consultant Paediatrician, Designated Doctor for LAC,
Manchester NHS
1. Viner R,Roche E, Maguire S, Nicholls D When does childhood obesity
become a child protection issue? BMJ 2010; 341c3074
2. Hadfield SC, Preece PM Obesity in looked after children: Is foster care
protective from the dangers of obesity?Child Care Health Dev 2008;34:710-
12
3. Cole TJ, Freeman JV, Preece MA; Body mass index reference curves for
the UK, 1990. Arch Dis Child. 1995 Jul;73(1):25-9.
Competing interests: No competing interests