Over 6,000 Children Treated at Specialist NHS Obesity Clinics

More than 6,000 children living with obesity in England have required treatment at specialist NHS weight-loss clinics since 2021, according to new figures. The data highlights the scale of the childhood obesity crisis, revealing that hundreds of these patients are as young as four years old.

The figures, published for the first time by NHS England, indicate that these children have been treated across 39 specialist centres. Within this broader group, 4,784 children and young people between the ages of 2 and 18 have specifically received care for conditions or complications associated with excess weight from a network of 32 specialist clinics since 2021.

To be referred to a Complications from Excess Weight (CEW) clinic, a child or young person must meet specific clinical criteria. These include having a body mass index (BMI) above the 99.6 percentile along with a complication resulting from excess weight.

The NHS has focused on treating severe obesity-related complications to avoid the necessity of more invasive medical treatments. As part of this effort, the health service is piloting new digital technology to provide expert care within the home environment.

This initiative involves the use of smart scale technology, which is currently being piloted at 15 CEW clinics. The system utilizes scales with hidden digits for home use, meaning the specific weight numbers are not displayed to the patient or their family.

Instead, the scales connect to a mobile application that visually indicates the direction of weight management. The data is automatically transmitted to the patient’s clinical team, who use the app to provide regular, personalized feedback and support behavioral changes to help families reach their goals.

Approximately 350 patients and their families are currently using this technology. NHS leadership intends to expand the system to four additional clinics during the summer of 2026, with the goal of supporting an additional 150 children.

NHS England officials view the combination of the smart scale tool and the accompanying app as a method to expand the delivery of holistic care. This approach emphasizes behavioral change techniques to treat obesity and reduce the need for frequent hospital visits.

It is fantastic that through cutting-edge technology and a holistic and behaviour-change approach to obesity care, our specialist NHS clinics have already transformed the lives of thousands of children and young people – supporting them to lose weight, live heathier lives and improve their mental health.

Professor Simon Kenny, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Children and Young People