Published: December 2025 | Contact: Theo Lorenc
What do we want to know?
Obesity in children is a serious public health concern. However, interventions to reduce or prevent obesity have been criticised for contributing to weight stigma, weight-related bullying and body image problems. To respond effectively to these issues, we need to understand what children themselves think about body weight, body size and obesity.
Who wants to know?
This independent research report was commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research Policy Research Programme for the Department of Health and Social Care. The project aimed to inform the development of the National Child Measurement Programme.
What did we find?
The review included 34 studies from the UK. Children think that people with overweight or obesity are likely to have health problems and to be limited in what they can do physically. They also think that children with overweight or obesity will be bullied or socially excluded. They see diet and physical activity as the main factors influencing weight. Children with overweight or obesity say that they often experience negative attitudes and bullying, and this can be a barrier to participating in social interaction and physical activity.
Children’s views are influenced by their own experiences, by parents and other family members, and sometimes by content in the media or on social media. There are some differences between girls and boys at older ages, but both girls and boys are concerned about weight.
What are the conclusions?
Many children have very negative views of overweight and obesity. These views are present from an early age, and are bound up with narratives about health and physical ability. Children understand weight differently to adults or older young people, and may respond differently to messages about weight and health.
How did we get these results?
We searched 20 dabatase sources for qualitative studies on any views of body size, shape, weight or obesity among children aged 4-12 conducted in the UK. Studies were critically appraised for rigour in sampling, data collection and other methodological domains. We synthesised data thematically.
