The National Child Measurement Programme weighs children in reception (ages four and five) and in year 6 (ages 10 and 11) to assess how many primary school-aged children are overweight or obese.
However, as part of its inquiry into body image, the Women and Equalities Committee has called for a review of the programme over concerns it “could hinder the development of a positive body image” in children.
“Academics stated that clinicians consider being weighed in front of people or making a child’s family aware they need to lose weight or have a high body mass index (BMI) as a trigger for eating disorders,” the report states.
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