Severely obese children and young people will receive support at Birmingham Women and Children’s hospital in the coming months as part of a pilot scheme.
The specialist clinics will support one thousand children a year, who are aged between two and 18 and experiencing health complications related to severe obesity.
Fifteen clinics will be set up as part of the scheme.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS in England said;
“Left unchecked, obesity can have other very serious consequences, ranging from diabetes to cancer.”
She added;
“The pandemic has shone a harsh light on obesity – with many vulnerable young people struggling with weight gain during the pandemic.”
Obesity affects one in five children in the UK and can increase the likelihood of a child developing serious health issues such as Type 2 diabetes, liver conditions and early heart disease.
Professor Julian Hamilton-Shield, Professor of Diabetes and Metabolic Endocrinology at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children called the clinics a demonstration of the NHS’s commitment to tackle obesity.
He said:
“Many children and young people with excess weight experience significant complications that can make them very unwell.
“Using a team of experts from many disciplines, including specialist dieticians, social support workers, and mental health professionals, we can pinpoint the exact causes of weight gain and create tailored treatment plans for each child to help accelerate weight loss and address the complications caused.”
