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Healthy weight

Helping children be a healthy weight

The NHS provides online resources for families to help their children start healthy and stay healthy:

Check your child’s weight

The body mass index (BMI) is an easy tool you can use to check whether your child is a healthy weight. Get more information about BMI and to calculate your child’s BMI.

School height and weight checks

If your child is in reception or year 6 at school, they will have their height and weight measured by the school nursing team. You will receive a letter with their results. This letter will tell you whether they are:

  • normal weight
  • underweight
  • overweight
  • very overweight

Get information about school height and weight checks from the NHS.

If your child is overweight or very overweight, and you'd like support, find out about our Alive ‘N’ Kicking service below.

What can I do if my child is overweight?

Here are five key ways you can help your child maintain a healthy weight:

  • be a good role model
  • encourage at least 60 minutes, and up to several hours, of physical activity each day
  • keep to child-sized portions
  • eat healthy meals, drinks and snacks
  • less screen time and more sleep.

Get more information on these, and tips from the NHS on how to help your child achieve a healthy weight.

Find out how to get your kids eating well, and where to get local support.

If your child is overweight or very overweight, and you would like support, find out about our Alive ‘N’ Kicking service, as well as other support services below.

Support services in Southwark to help your child lose weight

If you are concerned about your child’s weight and would like to make a change, there is a range of family support available

Family physical activity and healthy eating course - Alive ‘N’ Kicking

Alive ‘N’ Kicking is a free 12 week course designed to help whole families make healthier choices around food and exercise. It helps you make small, easy changes to lose weight and improve your health, by increasing your physical activity and eating more healthily.

Alive ‘N’ Kicking is for children (4 to 17 years) and their families that live in Southwark, who are overweight or obese. Those eligible are offered weekly sessions including nutrition workshops as well as a chance for your child to be active and social with others

If you think this is you, call the team on 0333 005 0095.

Online support to help your child lose weight

Sign up to Change4Life for support in helping your child to lose weight.

You can also find a range of online support to help your kids eat well and get your kids moving more.

Healthy weight support at children and family centres

Our children and family centres provide a range of support to families to help them live well.

You can get advice on a range of areas including:

  • breastfeeding support
  • weaning
  • recipes on a budget
  • positive meal times
  • cook and eat classes

Find out more about children and family centres

If your child is underweight

Being underweight isn't good for your child’s health. The NHS provides information on:

Talk to your GP if your child is underweight.

Specialist nutrition and diet support

Southwark’s nutrition and dietetics service provides support to families of children with a wide range of weight and eating conditions.

Your GP can refer you to help you to improve your child’s nutrition.

Page last updated: 13 September 2023

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