How could you help tackle obesity in children

Dental teams have an important role to play in reducing obesity in children.

06 April, 2026 / editorial

As a specialty registrar in paediatric dentistry, I have seen first-hand the pain children experience because of poor oral health. Tooth decay in children is also linked to obesity. Childhood obesity increases the risk of developing other diseases throughout childhood and into adulthood, including diabetes, high blood pressure and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

My research, conducted with colleagues at Loughborough University, explores how acceptable
and feasible it is for dental teams to offer weight checks and support, such as referral to weight loss programmes, to patients during routine appointments. In my job as a paediatric dentist, I discuss weight and health with families and offer referral to local healthy lifestyle services.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 43% of children have tooth decay worldwide and 20% of children aged 5-19 years are overweight or living with obesity. Given the links between diet, tooth decay, obesity, type 2 diabetes, as well as other diseases that can develop when living with obesity, dental teams may be ideal professionals to tackle both tooth decay and obesity.

It can be difficult to see an NHS dentist in the UK, but NHS dental teams do see millions of children every year and already advise families on reducing sugary foods and drinks in their diet to reduce the risk of tooth decay.

Dental teams taking body measurements is not new. Height and weight measurements to calculate body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat, are already collected by some dental teams. These measurements are helpful when prescribing medication and for planning dental treatment for children who need a general anaesthetic or sedation.

Some hospital dental teams, such as in Edinburgh and Dundee, also offer weight and height checks for children and young people as part of routine appointments. The child’s weight is discussed with the child’s parent or carer in a sensitive way, and families are offered referral to a local service to support healthy lifestyle changes.

This opportunity to support a child with their oral health as well as weight aligns with the NHS initiative, Making Every Contact Count (MECC). It calls on all healthcare professionals to take every opportunity within their appointments with patients to help improve patient health. The public have shown support for dental teams to talk about weight at dental visits and offer guidance to lose weight and improve health when done in a supportive way.

A survey¹ asked parents and carers if they would feel comfortable with their child(ren)’s weight and height being taken at a dental appointment in a dental practice. The survey found 58% of parents and carers would feel comfortable and a further 12% might feel comfortable with this approach.

This was very similar to how adults completing the survey felt about having their own height and weight measured at a dental appointment, with 60% reporting they would feel comfortable and a further 10% saying they may feel comfortable.

Discussing weight can feel uneasy and dental teams say they worry they will upset patients if they talk about weight. Some studies have found dental teams are also concerned they do not have enough time to talk about weight and that they have not had training on how to do this. However, studies² have found that when weight checks and support are offered to families by trained dental teams, help is well received and lack of time rarely a problem.

Dental decay and obesity are preventable in many cases. Both conditions can continue into adulthood with the risk of developing other health problems. Research shows that dental teams are willing to provide support and that children and their families are open to receiving help for obesity. Dental teams do have an important role to play, as well as GPs and allied healthcare professionals, in tackling obesity in children as well as tooth decay.