Figures released yesterday by the National Child Measurement programme are deeply disturbing.  The fact that 22.9% of children in year one in primary school are overweight or obese surely indicates that measuring the BMI of children should begin much earlier.

The NOF view is that measuring BMI should begin at the age of one year and be repeated at yearly intervals throughout childhood, using appropriate charts based on breastfed children.  In this way deviations from the norm could be detected early and appropriate actions taken.

It has clearly been established that an early adiposity rebound is a significant risk factor for the subsequent development of childhood obesity.

We must not forget that left ventricular dysfunction has been detected in morbidly obese six year old children and that by early adolescents obese children display such features of the metabolic syndrome with hypertension, dyslipidaemia and endothelial dysfunction all of which point to the premature onset of cardio metabolic disease.

To only begin measuring the BMI of children at school entry is an insult to child health and wellbeing.

Dr Colin Waine