Healthy weight - local health systems support for pregnant women and young children: research

Glossary

BMI – Body Mass Index. Uses height and weight to calculate a score which indicates whether or not someone is in the healthy weight range for their height.

Centile/Percentile – a measure used in statistics indicating the value below which a given percentage of observations in a group of observations fall. For example, a child whose BMI is at the 91st centile has a BMI higher than 91% of other children.

CHW (Child Healthy Weight) - Child healthy weight is a term used in Scotland to capture both prevention and early-intervention/treatment activity aimed at supporting children to maintain a healthy weight.

Counterweight – This programme is a first line intervention to help people lose body weight. People are supported to make sustainable changes to their eating habits and activity levels so that they can lose weight and reduce their risk of chronic disease.

FNP – Family Nurse Partnership is a home visiting programme for first-time young parents. It aims to support them to have a healthy pregnancy, improve their child's health and development, and plan their futures and achieve their aspirations.

Gestational diabetes - high blood sugar (glucose) that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth. Any woman can develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, but women are at an increased risk if their body mass index (BMI) is above 30.

GIRFEC – Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is the Scottish Government's national approach to improving the wellbeing of children and young people. GIRFEC is a way for families to work in partnership with people who can support them, such as teachers, doctors and nurses.

HPI (Health Plan Indicator) – the HPI is a tool intended to reflect the needs of a child. It is used to identify children who need more support.

HENRY – the HENRY approach integrates evidence-based behaviour change models, including the Family Partnership Model, motivational interviewing and solution-focused support with information about a healthy start (nutrition, activity, etc.) that is consistent with national guidance.

Near Me – a video consulting service that allows people to attend appointments from home.

NHS (National Health Service) – the umbrella term for the government-funded healthcare systems of the UK.

Living with obesity – a category used to define individuals with high BMI scores, above a certain value. For the purposes of CHW interventions, a child is considered at risk of obesity if their BMI measure is at or above the 98th centile (based on UK 1990 growth charts). An adult is considered obese if they have a BMI of 30 or above.

Living with overweight – a category used to define individuals with high BMI scores, above healthy weight but below the range for 'obese'. For the purposes of CHW interventions, a child is considered at risk of overweight if their BMI measure is at or above the 91st centile (based on UK 1990 growth charts). An adult is considered overweight if they have a BMI of 25 or above.

PHS (Public Health Scotland) - Scotland's national agency for improving and protecting the health of people in Scotland. It is a partnership between national and local government.

SIGN guidelines (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines) - aim to improve the quality and consistency of health care in Scotland by developing and disseminating national guidelines promoting best practice.

UHVP (Universal Health Visiting Pathway) - this was introduced in 2015, and is a programme of 11 home visits to all families of young children in Scotland pre-birth to pre-school.

UNICEF – United Nations Children's Fund

WHO – World Health Organisation