Promoting healthy weight in children

Advice for parents of healthy-weight children

If your child is a healthy weight, there’s lots you can do as a parent to help them stay a healthy size as they grow.

Research shows children who stay a healthy weight tend to be fitter, healthier, better able to learn, and more self-confident. They are also much less likely to have health problems now and in later life. 

You can read more about how to keep healthy weight children healthy on the NHS website.

Advice for parents of overweight children

Children can become overweight when they get more energy from food and drink than they use through activity.

Overweight children are more likely to become overweight as adults. This could lead to long-term conditions such as type 2 diabetes. By making changes to their diet and activity levels you can help them reach a healthy weight.

You can read more about making changes to improve the health of overweight children on the NHS website.

Advice for parents of underweight children

There could be several reasons why your child or a child you care for is underweight. If it’s because they are not getting enough calories there are things you can do to help them gain weight. 

You can find out more about how to help your child gain weight on the NHS website.

Other useful resources

• Your child 0-5 years – Healthy eating and keeping active
• Your school-age child  (5-19) – Growth and weight concerns
• Talking to your child about weight
• Eating well – early years
• Healthy eating and physical activity
• Healthier families