NHS data shows 6,497 children treated for severe obesity

More than 6,000 children and teenagers in England have been treated at specialist National Health Service (NHS) clinics for severe obesity since 2021, newly published NHS England data shows. The figures, released for the first time, cover 6,497 patients treated at 39 Complications from Excess Weight (CEW) centres since the first clinic opened in 2021.

The data includes hundreds of patients as young as four, highlighting how early serious weight-related health problems are being identified. Eligibility for the service requires referral by a clinician and a body mass index (BMI) above the 99.6th percentile, along with an illness linked to excess weight.

Of the 6,497 children treated, 423 were aged four and 1,088 were aged five to eight. NHS England’s breakdown also shows 1,791 patients were aged nine to 12 and 3,137 were aged 13 to 17, with the age of a further 58 unknown.

About 400 children have received weight loss injections as part of their treatment plans, according to the data. CEW clinics provide tailored care that can include diet plans, mental health support and coaching.

Health conditions linked to severe obesity

Analysis of just under 6,000 children treated at CEW clinics found that 17% had high blood pressure and a similar proportion had abnormal fat levels in their blood. The same analysis found that 6% had type 2 diabetes.

The analysis also found that just under 30% of patients had metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and 17% had obstructive sleep apnoea. The findings were due to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul.

Mental health needs and early outcomes

The data showed additional mental health and neurodevelopmental needs among patients. About 9% had deliberately self-harmed and 9% had anxiety. Just under 30% were diagnosed with autism, about 12% with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 24% had a learning disability.

Further analysis presented at the conference found that children treated at the 39 CEW clinics were, on average, 10 kg lighter two years later than children who only saw their GP or community health teams.

Officials and researchers are expected to focus on how the clinics are used and on broader efforts to prevent childhood obesity, as more data is released on the programme’s reach and outcomes.