NEW research from a network of UK universities reveals that children attending NHS excess weight clinics in England are overwhelmingly from deprived backgrounds and often face complex health and developmental challenges, highlighting the urgent need for targeted, multidisciplinary intervention.
The study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity, analysed data from over 3,000 children referred to 32 specialist weight clinics across England since their launch in 2021. These clinics, designed for severely obese children aged 2 to 17, accept referrals from general practitioners and hospital doctors. The research was conducted by teams at Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds, and Bristol universities. As part of a comprehensive approach, the clinics offer psychological care, dietary support, and treatment for co-existing conditions, and are staffed by paediatricians, psychologists, and dieticians.
Findings revealed that more than 40% of the children came from the most deprived areas in England. Many children had additional health concerns: 24% had autism, 23% had a learning disability, and 30% were diagnosed with liver disease. Some children had a BMI exceeding 50, with 40 classified as severely obese. The presence of multiple health conditions and the social context of deprivation compound the challenge of managing obesity in these young patients. Simon Kenny, NHS England’s national clinical director, remarked on the “invisible” nature of the problem, noting how severely obese children often stay at home, missing school and social interaction, factors that have long-term implications for their physical, emotional, and educational development.
Innovative tools, such as app-linked smart scales that display only weight trends rather than actual figures, are being used in some clinics to support families while minimising distress. However, experts like Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum stress that routine monitoring and early detection remain key, criticising historical neglect in weight surveillance.
These findings emphasise the multifaceted nature of childhood obesity and the necessity of early, sustained, and personalised interventions. Without action, today’s invisible crisis risks becoming tomorrow’s chronic disease burden.
Reference
BBC News. Child obesity clinics seeing BMIs over 50. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg7w58yddgo. Last accessed: 13 May 2025.
