A healthier weight, a happier child and answers you can finally trust: specialist childhood obesity care from Dr Dunia Ismail
Dr Dunia Ismail is a Consultant Paediatrician specialist in Endocrinology and Diabetes who helps families understand what is really driving their child’s weight gain. She checks carefully for any underlying hormonal or medical causes, explains everything in plain language, and builds a calm, practical plan around your child, with unhurried appointments and no long waiting lists.
Consultant-led care you can trust
We now know that childhood obesity is a complex medical condition. It can affect a child’s hormones, growth, and long-term health, so early, structured support is important. In our paediatric obesity and endocrinology service, care is delivered through a multidisciplinary team (MDT) using a holistic approach that looks at the whole child: their physical health, emotional wellbeing, family routines, sleep, activity, and any underlying hormone-related factors. Excess weight can lead to complications such as insulin resistance, early type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver changes, menstrual irregularities, and concerns around growth or puberty. Long-term outcomes improve when children achieve sustainable weight loss, usually through lifestyle changes supported by our MDT. When lifestyle measures alone are not enough, we follow national guidelines and strict eligibility criteria to discuss evidence-based medical options, including structured pathways for newer available treatments. Our goal is to provide compassionate, guideline-led care that supports your child’s health now and into the future. It is never a child’s fault if they have excess weight.
Recognised by major UK and international insurers
Dr Ismail’s consultations are recognised by all the major private health insurers. Cover for weight-related appointments can vary from one policy to the next, so it is always worth a quick call to your insurer before you book.
Self-funding families are warmly welcomed. Many families choosing specialist weight and obesity care prefer to self-fund for speed and continuity. We agree clear, transparent pricing with you before your appointment and provide an itemised invoice for every consultation. Insured families: please check whether your policy covers weight-related consultations, and arrange pre-authorisation with your insurer before your appointment.
Worrying about your child’s weight can feel lonely and confusing
You want to do the right thing for your child, but the advice you have been given so far has not added up. You deserve a specialist who takes your concerns seriously and looks at the whole picture. It is not your child’s fault if they have excess weight; we now know that childhood obesity is a complex medical condition.
You can see your child gaining weight, and you do not know why
You feel stuck, and it is not your fault. Obesity has complex reasons behind it. You have watched your child’s weight climb, perhaps faster than seems normal for their age. You may have already changed meals, encouraged more activity and tried to do everything by the book, yet the pattern has not shifted.
Underneath it sits a quieter worry about their health, their energy, their confidence and how they are treated by other children. It is a concern that rarely switches off.
You have asked for help before, but felt brushed aside
Many parents tell us they raised their worries early and were told to simply wait and see, or given general lifestyle advice that never quite fitted their child. NHS specialist weight clinics have reduced capacity and long waiting lists, so families can be left in limbo for months.
And the question that keeps you awake stays unanswered. Could something medical be driving this, a thyroid problem, a hormone imbalance or another underlying cause that nobody has properly checked?
A specialist who listens, checks properly and gives you a real plan
Dr Dunia Ismail gives families the unhurried, expert attention this deserves. In a calm 45 minute consultation she reviews your child’s growth and history, looks carefully for any underlying hormonal or medical cause, and explains what she finds in plain language.
Together you agree a practical, non-judgemental plan built around your child and your family life. You leave with answers, clear next steps and the reassurance of knowing exactly what is going on. Dr Ismail wants you to feel listened to and never judged.
What Families Say About Dr Ismail
Verified reviews from TopDoctors and Doctify – real families sharing their experience of Dr Ismail’s care.
Trusted by families seeking clear, specialist answers
Dr Ismail is rated 5 out of 5 by families across TopDoctors and Doctify, consistently praised for her clear, unhurried and genuinely specialist care.
Verified patient reviews
Dr Ismail was incredibly kind and thorough with my daughter. Highly recommended paediatrician.
Dr Ismail treated my son Kit at the Nuffield. She was incredibly kind, thorough and understanding. Communication is excellent and we really felt supported through the process x
Dr Ismail has a wonderful manner with both children and parents and you feel like she genuinely cares. She is incredibly thorough and knowledgeable and we are very grateful to be under her care.
Dr Ismail has a lovely manner and always very friendly while being professional. Makes you feel listened to.
Dr Ismail saw my son a couple of weeks ago. She is very kind and a great professional. She explained every step to him very clearly and with very good manners. She’s very knowledgeable and will go to the bottom of the medical issue, no guess work, arranging any necessary tests to get the final results. We are very pleased with how the appointments went.
Amazing doctor, very thorough, interested in her patients.
Dr Ismail was wonderful. Very approachable and explained everything clearly and patiently.
Dr Ismail has a lovely manner and able to bridge the differences in language between ages, explaining in simple terms what the medical terms mean. Put together a plan to follow and a follow-up future appointment. Would be great if she was our family dr! 5 stars.
Dr Ismail was extremely knowledgeable about our concern and has a fantastic bedside manner which put our son completely at ease. Would highly recommend.
Find the right support for your child
Tell us a little about your child first. There is no pressure and no obligation, just a simple way to make sure your enquiry reaches the right place.
Clear, honest pricing with no hidden costs
You will always know what an appointment costs before you book. Fees are agreed in writing in advance, so there are no surprises and no pressure.
- ✓ An unhurried appointment, with real time to talk through every concern
- ✓ A full review of your child's growth, weight history and family history
- ✓ A focused examination and careful check for any underlying medical cause
- ✓ A diagnostic plan, with any blood tests or scans clearly explained first
- ✓ A clear written summary and practical next steps you can act on
- ✓ A review of test results, explained calmly and in plain language
- ✓ Adjustments to your child's plan as they grow and make progress
- ✓ Monitoring appointments at a pace that suits your child
- ✓ A shared summary with your child's NHS GP for joined-up care
Follow-up fees are confirmed with you before each appointment, so you are always in control of the cost.
The difference a caring, holistic specialist makes
When you are weighing up where to turn for help with your child's weight, here is how Kids Endocrinology compares to a typical pathway.
Endocrinology
pathway
Four calm, simple steps to real answers
From your first enquiry to ongoing support, here is exactly what to expect. No uncertainty, no jargon and no pressure.
Request your appointment
Tell us about your child using the form above, or call our team. A GP referral is helpful but not essential, and you are welcome to book directly.
Your initial consultation
Dr Ismail reviews your child's growth, weight history and family history, examines your child gently, and checks carefully for any underlying medical cause.
Any tests and a clear plan
If tests are needed they are explained first, then Dr Ismail builds a practical, holistic and non-judgemental plan around your child and your family life.
Follow-up and ongoing support
You return to review results and progress, usually after 4 to 6 weeks. Dr Ismail adjusts the plan as your child grows and keeps your GP informed.
Not sure where to start? We will guide you through every step.
Welcoming clinics to choose from
Dr Ismail consults across the South East and Greater London. Choose the location that suits your family, and we will arrange any tests nearby.
Care in the language your family thinks in
Complex diagnoses are hard enough without a language barrier. Dr Ismail consults in five languages, so local and international families alike can discuss tests, results and plans in their own words.
Your questions about childhood weight care, answered
A few of the things families most often ask before they book. If your question is not here, please get in touch and we will be glad to help.
Your child deserves answers, and you deserve peace of mind
Book a private consultation with Dr Dunia Ismail and take the first calm, confident step towards understanding your child's weight and giving them the healthiest possible start.
Request Private AppointmentRated 5.0 out of 5 by families on Top Doctors and Doctify, with 100% who would recommend