Child Healthy Weight Service Referral Guidance

The Tayside Child Healthy Weight Service provides primary care interventions to children and young people living with overweight or obesity and their families. There are a range of interventions available depending on the age of young person referred. Clinics are held in community locations across each of the HSCP areas and appointments can either be in person, via Near me or, if required, via home visits.

• Young people under the age of 18 with a body mass index (BMI) above the 91st centile. Children’s BMI (between the ages of 2 – 18years) can be calculated using the NHS website using the ‘child’ calculator tab, which adjusts for their age. 
• BMI cannot be used to assess for overweight and obesity in children under the age of 2 years. In these instances the weight-height to BMI conversion chart on the RCPCH-WHO baby growth charts for 0-4 years is used to screen for risk of overweight or obesity.

• Those aged over 18 years – refer to Adult Weight Management Service instead 
• Any child with a BMI below the 91st centile
• Any children or young person where parent/carer and young person (where appropriate) has not consented to referral specifically to a weight management service. (Support can also be provided on a range of issues e.g. fussy eating and body image but parents/carers and, where appropriate, young people must be aware that this will be in the context of weight management).

• Families can be referred by professionals or they can contact us directly. 
• Please refer electronically using SCI-Gateway where possible (listed under Dietetics - Child Healthy Weight Service).
• All referrals are triaged via the central PRI base and allocated according to locality (Near Me consultations often being used currently).
• Alternatively for those without access to SCI-Gateway, referral forms can be accessed via our NHS Tayside webpage on NHS Tayside webpage:
  • Self Referral Form
  • Professional Referral Form 

Key Information to Include in Referral:

• Anthropometric data (height, weight, BMI)
• Previous lifestyle interventions
• Medical history – biochemistry, BP identifying weight related co-morbidities
• Current social circumstances
• Social Work and/or Child Protection 
• Any language or communication needs

• NHS Tayside Child Healthy Weight Service NHS Tayside Child Healthy Weight Service
• BMI calculator NHS BMI calculator
• Talking to your child about weight Parent Club talking to your child about weight
• Let’s Talk About Weight: A step-by-step guide to brief interventions with adults for health and care professionals.

• Child Healthy Weight Service, Nutrition and Dietetic Dept, Perth Royal Infirmary, Taymount Terrace, Perth, PH1 1NX. Child Healthy Weight Service Nutrition and Dietetic Dept, Perth Royal Infirmary, Taymount Terrace, Perth, PH1 1NX.
• Tel 01738 473784
• Tay.chws@nhs.scot.