With levels of child obesity now around 25% in the UK, healthcare providers across the country are stepping up their efforts to support children’s health. In response to this growing concern, the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust’s Children and Young People’s (CYP) Service will now be recording children’s height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) during outpatient appointments.

This initiative aims to ensure that young patients and their families are equipped with the tools and resources needed to lead healthy and active lifestyles. It will help identify any potential issues early on, allowing families to access the necessary support and guidance on nutrition, physical activity, and overall well-being.

The UK has seen a worrying increase in child obesity rates, with nearly one in eight children aged 2–10 classified as obese. Childhood obesity can have long-term health consequences, including an increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and mental health challenges. The CYP Service is committed to addressing this issue with sensitivity and compassion, ensuring that no child or family feels judged.

During outpatient appointments, our team will gently and professionally collect information on each child's height, weight, and BMI. All families will then be given a letter with links to NHS advice for healthy eating and exercise. If families have any further concerns or feel they need extra support, they will be advised to speak to their GP, consultant or nurse.

At Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, we understand that each family’s journey is unique, and we are here to support every step of the way. Our aim is to empower children, young people, and their families with the knowledge and tools they need to lead healthier lives.

We look forward to working with our community to ensure our children and young people grow up healthy, happy, and well-supported.

For more information on healthy eating and keeping your child active, please visit:

If you have any further questions about this initiative, please reach out to your child's clinician.

About Body Mass Index (BMI) – why do we use it as an indicator?

BMI is not a direct measure of body fat but, in children over the age of two years, it has been shown to correlate with the health risks of obesity in childhood. BMI is inexpensive to obtain and easy to calculate.

Research shows that parents and health professionals often underestimate the weight of children just by looking at their appearance. Trying to judge just by looking at height and weight on a growth chart can also be misleading. Not only does the normal range of BMI change with age, but over-nourished children grow in height as well as putting on weight (though final heights are not taller than expected as over nourished children tend to go into puberty early).