Thousands of young children referred to NHS weight loss clinics

Health & Fitness
13 May 2026 • 1:00 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • NHS England's Complications from Excess Weight (CEW) clinics have referred over 6,000 children and young people with severe obesity since their inception in 2021.
  • Among those referred to the almost 40 specialist clinics, 423 were aged four or younger, with a further 1,088 between five and eight years old, all having a body mass index above the 99.6 percentile.
  • Children referred to the CEW clinics receive bespoke care packages, including diet plans, mental health support, and coaching, with approximately 400 also administered weight loss jabs.
  • Many young patients were diagnosed with serious health issues such as liver disease, hypertension, sleep apnoea, and type two diabetes, highlighting the severe impact of childhood obesity.
  • Research presented at the European Congress on Obesity indicates these clinics are effective in supporting patients for better health and weight management, particularly in maintaining weight loss and reaching children from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.

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