What happens during a BUMM assessment for childhood obesity?

What is BUMM?

BUMM stands for Barn- och ungdomsmedicinsk mottagning (paediatric outpatient clinic). These are specialist outpatient clinics for children up to 18 years of age — staffed by paediatricians, paediatric nurses, and frequently dietitians, physiotherapists, and psychologists. In cases of childhood obesity, children are usually referred here from BVC (child health centres), the school health service, or a primary care centre.

What happens during the appointment

Measurements (10–15 min)

• Height, weight, iso-BMI, and waist circumference.
• Blood pressure (sometimes measured several times, as children can be nervous).
• Pulse oximetry if there is snoring or suspected sleep apnoea.

Blood tests (10 min) The standard blood panel for obesity typically includes:

• Fasting blood glucose and HbA1c — to rule out type 2 diabetes.
• Lipid profile (cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides) — to assess cardiovascular risk.
• ALT (ALAT) — to check for fatty liver.
• TSH — to rule out an underactive thyroid.
• Insulin if insulin resistance is suspected.

Consultation (30–60 min) This takes up most of the time. The nurse or doctor will ask about:

• What the family usually eats — breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks.
• Sleep — bedtimes, waking times, snoring.
• Physical activity — school, leisure, screen time.
• School, friends, emotional wellbeing, bullying.
• Family medical history — obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease.

Plan (10 min) No radical decisions are made at the first appointment. The blood test results take one to two weeks, after which a follow-up visit is scheduled to develop a treatment plan together with the family.

What you as a parent should prepare

• The growth chart from BVC or school health services. Ask for a copy beforehand — it is invaluable.
• A list of the family's medications and known health conditions.
• The timing of the child's signs of puberty, if they have begun.
• Think through a typical weekday — what is eaten, when, and where. This is not to judge you, but to make the discussion more productive.
• Talk to your child before the appointment about what will happen, without placing blame on their weight. ("We are going to see a children's doctor who will help us with some of our everyday habits.")

How many appointments will there be?

• Visit 1: Assessment (this visit).
• Visit 2: Follow-up after 2–4 weeks — test results and treatment plan.
• Ongoing: Follow-up visits every 6 to 12 weeks for 6–12 months, and less frequently thereafter. See the treatment timeline.

What does not happen

• No one will "tell you off". Healthcare staff are specifically trained to avoid shaming language.
• No strict diets are prescribed on the first day — treatment is family-based, not calorie-focused.
• No medications are prescribed during the first visit. Any discussion of GLP-1 medications takes place only after lifestyle treatment has been established for some time, and solely for children aged 12 and older with severe obesity.

Related questions

• How long does treatment for childhood obesity take?Treatment for childhood obesity is a multi-year effort — here is what the timeline looks like, from the first BUMM visit to the maintenance phase.
• BVC says my child's weight chart is deviating — what does that mean?What BVC means by a "deviating weight chart" — and when it is actually time to act.
• When is overweight in children something to take seriously?The patterns that signal overweight needs investigation — and where to seek help.

See all questions and answers →