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Obesity is on the rise in children and young people (CYP) and is one of the significant healthcare challenges in England. The National Child Measurement programme, England 2021–22 report showed a high prevalence of obesity in school-age children in the reception year (10.1%) and year 6 (23.4%) which means almost 1 in 4 children in year 6 in England are living with obesity.¹

Obesity management can be more challenging in CYP with learning difficulties, autism, and other forms of developmental delay. We looked at the prevalence of obesity based on Body Mass Index (BMI) in children in all 3 special schools in Bedford and completed an audit to evaluate whether they had appropriate assessment and support from local health services to manage their weight.

A list of children, who met NICE diagnostic criteria for clinical obesity (BMI 98th centile + 2.05 standard deviation/SDs) and severe obesity (BMI …