The Information Services Division Scotland has published statistics on body mass index (BMI) measures for Primary 1 school children for school years 2001-2002 to 2018-2019. Children were assigned to a healthy or unhealthy weight category by comparing their BMI with that of reference group children matched for age and sex.
Key findings from the report are as follows:
- Among Primary 1 children in the school year 2018-2019, 77 per cent had a healthy weight and 12 per cent were at a risk for overweight, 10 per cent for obesity and 1 per cent for underweight.
- The overall proportion of Primary 1 children at a risk for overweight or obesity has been reasonably constant since 2001-2002.
- The proportion of Primary 1 children at a risk for overweight or obesity has risen in the most deprived areas of Scotland but declined in the least deprived areas since 2001-2002.
- Boys in Primary 1 have a slightly lower likelihood of having a healthy weight than girls.
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