As a part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP), GPs are being encouraged to upload online the height and weight of children who pass through their clinic.
After data has been uploaded it will be anonymously analysed to provide high quality population-monitoring information.
The Health, Education and Culture government departments established the NCMP last year in order to tackle the growing child obesity problem in England.
This year, the programme aims to analyse the height and weight of children taken by trained healthcare staff at local NHS Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).
The NCMP hope this will enable PCTs to reach the government’s obesity targets and target local planning and delivery of services to children.
They say it will also improve public and professional understanding of children’s weight problems.
Data should be sent to the NHS Information Center before 30 September 2007.
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