Nutrition and obesity

One in three children in the UK are obese by age 9. This increase is leading to more cases of type 2 diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure in children. We campaign for politicians to tackle it and help deal with the serious clinical and family consequences for those treating or suffering from related conditions.

Childhood obesity

Obesity is one of the biggest public health threats facing the UK and the biggest human-generated burden on the economy after smoking. Our 2017 State of Child Health report explored some of the challenges and potential solutions.

Read about childhood obesity

Obesity Health Alliance policy position

As a member of OHA, we agree urgent population-level policy interventions to reduce rates of overweight and obesity and to address the social inequality and cultural differences in overweight and obesity prevalence.

Download OHA policy position (PDF)

Breastfeeding benefits

Its benefits are beyond question - for mother and baby - but breastfeeding rates in the UK remain low. We support national policies, practices and legislation that are conducive to breastfeeding, as well as promotion, advice and support to new parents.

Read our position statement

What do you think of sugar?

We asked the children at Christopher Hatton primary school earlier this year. Here's what they had to say!

Help us campaign on obesity

The RCPCH is part of the Obesity Health Alliance – a coalition of over 40 organisations with expertise in tackling obesity. Find out more about our campaigning activity and calls to action including our push to restricting junk food advertising prior to the 9pm watershed.

Visit the Obesity Health Alliance

Campaigning in Wales

The Welsh Government is consulting on its forthcoming obesity strategy. To get involved in the RCPCH submission, please contact our External Affairs Manager in Wales: Gethin.jones@rcpch.ac.uk

Email our Welsh office

Our recommendations for the nations

We have created a number of recommendations for the Government of each nation which we believe will improve childhood obesity.

Read our recommendations

Latest news on obesity and nutrition

More news

News

Welsh Government unveils proposals to tackle obesity

17 January 2019

RCPCH's Officer for Wales welcomes the focus the proposals place on children and the early years but calls on the Government to move quickly to support children who need weight management support now.

Community child health

General paediatrics

Diabetes

News

RCPCH responds to launch of Government consultation on promotions of unhealthy food and drink

14 January 2019

As part of its childhood obesity plan, Government has launched a consultation on restricting promotions of food and drink that is high in fat, sugar and salt.

Health policy

Public health

Obesity

News

Build screen time around family activities, not the other way round, parents told

4 January 2019

In a UK first, the RCPCH publishes new guidance to help parents manage their children’s screen time.

Health policy

Public health

Nutrition

Growth Charts

Growth is an important indicator of a child's health. Our charts allow health professionals to plot and measure your child's height and weight from birth to young adulthood.

View the growth charts

The medical profession's prescription for the nation's obesity crisis

This report from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges presents 10 key recommendations – an ‘action plan’ – of steps that the organisation believes must be taken to make real inroads into tackling the obesity crisis in the UK.

Key recommendations

Our archives about nutrition

Our subject guides on a range of child health topics are for researchers interested in child health and the history of paediatrics. Nutrition and diet affects all aspects of life and are important for growth and development.

Check the archives

Support our other campaigns

The RCPCH campaigns to improve child health in a number of ways, from securing policy commitments from political parties that will improve the health and lives of children and young people to lobbying on issues such as breastfeeding or water fluoridisation. Find out how you can join our campaigns and advocacy work.

Join our parliamentary panel

Read our resources on nutrition and obesity

Read our resources

Policy

The case for investing in early childhood interventions

This information bundle on early childhood presents interventions to ensure that all children have a healthy start in life and their parents are supported to do this. The interventions in early childhood aim to reduce the number of children who become ill or whose illness progresses unnecessarily du...

Resource

Child health in England in 2030: comparisons with other wealthy countries

The health of today’s children and young people (CYP) will be one of the key factors in determining whether England is healthy and prosperous over the next 50 years. In our reports, published October 2018, we used long term historical data on key CYP health outcomes and various projection modelling ...

Resource

Body mass index (BMI) chart

The BMI centile is a simple and reliable indicator of a healthy body weight in childhood. Where severe overweight or underweight is a concern, or where there is a need for monitoring weight over time, BMI can be calculated and plotted on this chart.