Obesity in children under 4 is rising, but GPs fear raising the issue with parents

New research suggests GPs are seeing obesity in children as young as four, but many fear upsetting families by raising concerns

Stethoscope concept of fat children with belly

Published: January 26, 2026 at 12:16 PM

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Almost a quarter of UK GPs say they are seeing obesity in children aged four or under, according to new research.

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The survey also suggests many family doctors feel poorly equipped to have these conversations, worrying they could cause distress, shame or long term harm.

The findings highlight how early weight issues are emerging for some families, and the emotional tightrope GPs feel they must walk when raising the subject with parents and children.

GPs seeing obesity in very young children

The survey, carried out by medical organisation MDDUS, asked 540 family doctors about their experiences of managing obesity and its growing impact on the NHS.

Almost one in four GPs (23%) said they had seen children aged between zero and four where obesity was a clinical concern. Nearly half (49%) said they had seen obesity in children up to the age of seven, including a small number under 12 months old.

Overall, 81% of doctors said they had seen obesity in children between their first birthday and the age of 11.

Dr John Holden, chief medical officer at MDDUS, said the results reflect what many GPs are now facing in day to day practice, with weight concerns appearing earlier and earlier in childhood.

These findings are an alarming confirmation of the growing crisis of childhood obesity across the country and the very real difficulties this creates in everyday GP consultations.

Dr John Holden, chief medical officer at MDDUS

Why talking about weight feels so difficult

While the numbers are worrying, the research also sheds light on why many parents may not hear these concerns raised clearly during appointments.

Four in five GPs said they find it somewhat or very challenging to talk to parents about an obese child under 16. Only one in ten said they find these conversations easy.

Nearly two thirds (65%) said they struggle to talk directly to obese children and young people themselves.

Doctors cited fears that parents may become upset, angry or feel judged. Around 72% worried parents would be distressed, 47% feared anger, and almost a quarter said they were concerned about complaints. Nearly three quarters said the risk of shame or stigma was a major barrier.

Similar concerns apply when speaking to children, including worries that raising weight issues could contribute to disordered eating or harm a child’s emotional wellbeing.

The pressure families are under

Dr Holden said GPs are acutely aware of the wider factors affecting families, including the cost of living, limited access to nutritious food and fewer safe opportunities for children to be active.

He explained that many doctors try to approach the topic with care and empathy, particularly when parents are already feeling stretched.

“When parents feel judged or blamed, conversations can quickly become emotionally charged and, as our members tell us, can lead to complaints from distressed or angry parents,” he said.

A growing challenge for the NHS

The majority of GPs surveyed believe childhood obesity will shape their working lives for years to come. More than nine in ten said it is likely to be a defining public health challenge of their career, and 95% believe it will significantly affect the NHS’s ability to deliver care.

There was also mixed feeling around the role of weight loss injections, with 59% believing they could save the NHS money, while 22% disagreed.

What the government says

The Department of Health and Social Care did not comment directly on the survey findings but said tackling childhood obesity remains a priority.

A spokesperson said: “Every child deserves the best possible start in life, which is why this government is taking decisive action to tackle childhood obesity.

“We are restricting junk food advertising on television before 9pm and online, a move expected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories per year from children’s diets, while giving local authorities new powers to stop fast food shops opening outside schools.

“Through our ten-year health plan, we’re shifting the focus from sickness to prevention to create a healthier nation.”

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For parents, the findings underline how complex and sensitive conversations about children’s weight can be, and how much support families and frontline doctors may need to navigate them with care.

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