New study shows that the NHS England 'Complications of Excess Weight' clinics are accessing a typically underserved population

Recent findings, presented at the European Congress on Obesity 2025, show that nearly 5,000 children have registered for the service since 2021, and these children often come from typically underserved communities.

Dr Jamie Matu, Reader in the Obesity Institute at Leeds Beckett University explained: "When compared to the general childhood population in England, the children accessing CEW clinics are more often living in the most derived areas, and come from black and minority ethnic backgrounds."

The results show a very high median BMI standard deviation score of 3.7. Additionally, of those who were assessed, 30% had liver disease, 21% had sleep apnoea, and 24% had autism spectrum disorder. This study highlights the clinical need for weight management services at a young age.

The clinics are still being operated across the country, and this provisional data will be updated as the ENHANCE project continues. The ENHANCE project will look into:

• How the different CEW services work across England
• The experiences of young people and families from different backgrounds who attend CEW services
• Which parts of the CEW services make the biggest improvements to children and young peoples lives
• Whether the CEW services provide good value for money to the NHS

*This work was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (Award ID: NIHR158453).