The Child Measurement Programme for Wales measures the height and weight of children in Reception class.
We want to learn how children in Wales are growing so that NHS Wales can better plan and deliver health services.
Public Health Wales is responsible for the coordination of the Child Measurement Programme and every health board across Wales is taking part in the programme.
Latest Results
This report summarises the data collected across Wales during the 2024/25 school year.
- Highest participation recorded: During the 2024/25 academic year, 28,512 children were measured resulting in a participation of 94.7%. This is the highest all-Wales participation since the programme began in 2013/14.
- Highest prevalence of children with obesity recorded: In Wales, the prevalence of children living with obesity was 12.8%. This was the highest all-Wales prevalence recorded since the programme began.
- Over a quarter of children are living with overweight or obesity in Wales: Over a quarter of children in Wales were living with overweight or obesity (27.3%). This was the highest all-Wales prevalence recorded since the programme began.
- Prevalence of children with obesity higher in Wales than other UK nations: The prevalence of children with obesity in Wales (12.8%) was higher than that reported for England (10.5%) and for Scotland (11.8%).
- Prevalence of obesity higher where deprivation is greater: The prevalence of children with obesity was approximately 75% higher in the most deprived fifth (15.6%) compared to the least deprived (8.9%). Children living in the least deprived fifth were less likely to be living with overweight or obesity compared to each of the other deprivation fifths.
- Higher prevalence of underweight in boys compared to girls: Boys were more likely to be underweight compared to girls with the prevalence of boys living with underweight at 1.2% compared to 0.6% for girls.