The technology is being piloted at 15 Complications from Excess Weight clinics. NHS staff are able to monitor and provide continuous weight loss support to patients and their families, without the need for frequent visits to hospital.
The new tech consists of smart scales with ‘hidden digits’ for home use that connects to a mobile app to visually display the direction of their weight management without displaying the specific numbers. Around 350 patients and their families are using it.
The data is automatically transferred to the patient’s clinical team, who can keep in touch with the family through the app to send regular personalised feedback to support behavioural changes to achieve their goals.
Professor Simon Kenny, NHS England’s national clinical director for children and young people, said: “It is fantastic that through cutting-edge technology and a holistic and behaviour-change approach to obesity care, our specialist NHS clinics have already transformed the lives of thousands of children and young people – supporting them to lose weight, live healthier lives and improve their mental health.
“This game-changing tool is helping our specialists support and keep track of children’s weight loss progress without them needing to leave home, while offering regular advice to them and their parents to help build healthy habits.
“Living with excess weight can cause problems affecting every organ system and long-term complications such type 2 diabetes, stroke, early joint replacements and mental health difficulties. We also know that children living with health problems have poorer school attendance which can affect their future employment and life opportunities – and the NHS won’t just sit by and let children and young people become ill adults.
“This important research on the life-changing impact that our NHS clinics are having highlights the complexities of the challenges facing so many young people and reaffirms our belief that early intervention can help limit excess weight gain and prevent the onset of associated long-term health complications.”
