A national study of nearly 270,000 children in England found that unhealthy weight status—especially severe obesity and underweight—substantially increased NHS healthcare costs. Published in JAMA Network Open, the analysis showed severe obesity led to the highest annual excess cost of £190 ($274) per child, followed by underweight at £164 ($236). Girls with severe obesity had higher costs than boys, and the greatest impact was seen in children aged 4–5 years. Researchers estimate that childhood overweight and obesity cost the NHS about £273 million ($393 million) annually, reinforcing the economic case for early prevention and weight-management interventions.