More than 6,000 children in England have received specialized treatment at Complications from Excess Weight clinics since the first opened in 2021, with some patients as young as four years old. The new NHS England data underscores the scale of childhood obesity and its associated health complications.
Among the 6,497 children treated: 423 were four years old, 1,088 aged 5 to 8, 1,791 aged 9 to 12, and 3,137 aged 13 to 17. The four-year-olds treated averaged 33kg, equivalent to the typical weight of a 10-year-old. To qualify for treatment, children must be referred by a pediatrician, GP, or mental health services and have a BMI above the 99.6th percentile plus an illness linked to excess weight. About 400 children have received weight loss jabs as part of treatment.
Analysis of nearly 6,000 treated children found significant comorbidities: 17% had high blood pressure, 17% had abnormal blood fat levels, 6% had type 2 diabetes, and 30% had metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Additionally, 17% experienced obstructive sleep apnoea, 9% had deliberately self-harmed, and 9% had anxiety. A significant number were neurodivergent, with nearly 30% diagnosed with autism and 12% with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Research presented at the European Congress on Obesity showed that children at CEW clinics were on average 10kg lighter two years later compared to those seeing only their GP or community health teams. Experts emphasized that prevention must begin in early childhood, with healthier food made easier and cheaper. Dr. Helen Stewart, health improvement officer at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, noted that high obesity rates disproportionately impact disadvantaged children, who face higher risks of chronic illness and mental health issues.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.nytimesnewstoday.com/more-than-6000-children-treated-at-obesity-clinics-in-england-figures-show/