Children, Young People and Families

Supporting children and young people to achieve and maintain a healthy weight is about building confident habits, nurturing wellbeing, and empowering families to make positive, sustainable lifestyle choices together

Healthy habits begin at home

Healthy habits begin at home, where everyday routines shape children’s lifelong relationship with food, activity and wellbeing. Small, positive changes — such as eating meals together, keeping active as a family and modelling balanced choices, can make a lasting difference.

Growing Well

Children and young people are still growing and developing. Healthy weight management focuses on supporting normal growth, strong bodies, good energy levels and positive self-esteem. Every child grows at their own pace. What matters most is creating healthy routines that support long-term health and wellbeing.

Lady and boy cooking and laughing together

Healthy habits for the whole family

The most successful changes happen when the whole family is involved. Think about:

Eating regular meals together
Balanced lunchbox ideas
Easy swaps (e.g. sugary drinks → water or milk)
Keeping healthy snacks easily available
Encouraging children to listen to when they are hungry or full

Enjoying movement together

Children and young peole benefit from opportunities to move in ways they enjoy. Think about:

Walking or cycling to school
Playing at the park
Family weekend walks
Dancing / active play at home
Community activity groups or local sports clubs

Local Services and Support

Feel Good Suffolk do not directly deliver child weight management services, but support is available locally from the Suffolk Healthy Living Service.

You can find out more about the Healthy Living Service at the links below, or, contact them on 01473263700 or email healthylivingservice@suffolk.gov.uk

You can also speak to:

– Your GP or health visitor

– School nursing team

– A registered dietitian

– Local family lifestyle programmes and activities – The Suffolk Healthy Living Service is a great place to start.

Suffolk Healthy Living Service

The Healthy Living Service offers support to children, young people, and their families to help them achieve a healthy weight and lifestyle.

Little girl who doesn't want to eat vegetables

Fussy Eating Workshops

Would you like support with Fussy Eating for your child (ages 1-5)? The Healthy Living Service offers monthly daytime and evening virtual workshops. Infant Feeding from antenatal onwards is also supported.

NHS Healthier Families

NHS Better Health Healthier Families is a great place to start thinking about your family’s health and wellbeing. It is full of food facts, recipes, and activities to get the whole family moving.

BMI Calculator

Check an adult’s or child’s BMI to find out if they’re a healthy weight.

NHS Better Health - image of a cartoon calculator

Sugar Calculator

Use the NHS Better Health sugar calculator for a quick check on how much sugar is in some of the everyday food and drink your child might have. You’ll be surprised how quickly it can add up!

Feel Good Suffolk Healthy Weight

Managing a healthy weight is about more than just numbers on a scale – it’s about feeling your best, having more energy and supporting your long-term health.

Commonly asked questions

Is my child a healthy weight?

As babies, children are weighed regularly to make sure they are growing well. As they get older, it can sometimes be harder to tell whether they’re within a healthy weight range — especially as growth spurts and puberty can cause quick changes.

For children and young people aged 2 to 18 years, we can use something called Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI looks at your child’s height and weight together to check whether their weight is appropriate for their height.

For children, BMI results are shown as a centile (or percentile). This compares your child’s measurements with other children of the same age and sex.

For example, if a child is on the 75th centile, it means their BMI is higher than 75 out of 100 children of the same age and sex.

Understanding the centiles

Underweight – 2nd centile or below
Healthy weight – Between the 2nd and 91st centiles
Overweight – 91st centile or above
Very overweight – 98th centile or above

Remember, centiles are just a guide. Children grow at different rates, and one measurement on its own doesn’t tell the whole story.

Checking your child’s growth

It’s recommended that you measure your child’s height and weight every three months and use a healthy weight calculator to see how they are growing over time. Measuring regularly helps you spot patterns rather than focusing on a single result.

If you have any concerns, you can discuss your child’s growth with your GP, school nurse or other health professional. They can help you understand the results and offer advice or support if needed.

The most important thing is supporting healthy habits and overall wellbeing as your child grows.

Health risks for children who are living with overweight

Children living with an increased weight are at an increased risk of some health conditions including developing high cholesterol, high blood pressure, pre diabetes, joint problems as well as breathing difficulties.

They are also more likely to experience stigma and bullying related to their weight, which can lead to low self-esteem and poorer mental wellbeing.

How much physical activity does my child need?

Children and young people should aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day. This can include active play, sports, walking, cycling or dancing — it doesn’t need to be formal exercise.

What is the National Child Weight Measurement Programme?

The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) measures the height and weight of children in Reception class (aged 4 to 5) and year 6 (aged 10 to 11), to assess overweight and obesity levels in children within primary schools. You can find out more about it on this video provided by the Suffolk Healthy Living Service.

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