Weight management for children
A gentle, evidence-based approach focused on habits and family environment. Never on restriction, dieting, or making a child feel 'wrong'.
How I approach weight in children
Childhood weight is sensitive territory, and I take that seriously. The evidence is clear: restriction, calorie counting, and dieting approaches don't work for children. More than that, they can cause real harm. Restrictive approaches in childhood increase the risk of disordered eating and eating disorders later. That's not a fringe position - it's in the NICE guidelines on obesity.
My approach is family-based. I look at meal structure, food environment, activity, sleep, emotional context, and the broader picture. Children aren't put on diets. They aren't given targets. The goal is building healthy habits within the whole family, not making one child feel singled out or 'wrong'. Evidence suggests this approach is associated with better long-term outcomes and avoids the psychological harm that weight-focused interventions can cause.
If you've been told your child needs to 'lose weight' and you're unsure what to actually do without making things worse, that's a very common reason families come to see me. The conversation we have will probably look different from what you're expecting, and evidence suggests outcomes tend to be better for it.
What this isn't - and why that matters
This isn't a weight loss programme for children. It isn't calorie counting, food restriction, or setting targets on a scale. If those things worked safely for children, I'd use them. They don't, and the evidence is unambiguous about that.
What I do instead is look at the family eating environment. Are meals regular? Is the household eating together? What's available in the kitchen? How is food talked about? Is there pressure around eating? What's happening with sleep, activity, screen time? Often more than half of the useful work isn't about food at all.
The goal is a household where healthy eating happens naturally, without anyone being singled out. As current NHS guidance explains, children whose weight is above what's expected often stabilise or 'grow into' their weight as they get taller, provided the underlying habits are supportive. That's a much safer and more sustainable outcome than trying to make a child lighter on a scale.
What we actually work on together
In a consultation, I'll go through your family's current eating patterns, meal structure, food environment, and any concerns. We look at what's working well (there's always something) and identify practical changes that are realistic for your family. These might include introducing more structured mealtimes, adjusting what's routinely available, building in more family meals, or addressing specific nutritional gaps.
I also spend time on the language piece. How weight and food are discussed in the household matters enormously. Children who hear their parents talk about dieting, 'being bad' for eating certain foods, or commenting on body size - their own or others' - internalise those messages quickly. Part of the work is helping families shift that narrative toward health, energy, and feeling good, rather than weight and appearance.
The evidence behind family-based approaches
Family-based weight management has the strongest evidence base for children. NICE recommends multicomponent lifestyle interventions - covering diet, activity, and behaviour - delivered to the whole family. The key principles are: no singling the child out, no restriction, focus on habits not weight, and sustained support over time.
What the research consistently shows is that children do better when the whole household changes, not just the child. When parents model healthy eating, when the food environment at home is adjusted, and when activity is built into family life rather than prescribed as exercise for the child, outcomes tend to improve. Research suggests that weight may stabilise, and eating behaviour, body image, and psychological wellbeing can also benefit.
Many families arrive anxious and expecting to be told off. They leave with a plan that feels doable, doesn't single out the child, and is designed to support meaningful change long-term.
Common questions
A clear plan,
built around your little one.
All consultations are online and you can self-refer directly. You'll receive a written plan after every appointment.
Thorough assessment & plan
Your first appointment is 60 minutes. It includes a full clinical and dietetic assessment, and you'll receive an agreed, written plan to take away.
Review & adjust
Follow-ups are 30 minutes. We review the plan, problem-solve anything that's come up, and adjust guidance as your child progresses.
Currently self-pay only. All fees are VAT-exempt as registered healthcare services. I provide receipts with my HCPC registration details which you can submit to your insurer.