The Paediatric Research in Obesity Multi-modal Intervention and Service Evaluation (PROMISE) [1] programme by the University College London aims to improve the assessment and treatment of childhood obesity. It intends to do this through research addressing key gaps in the evidence base supporting the NICE childhood obesity treatment pathway and building a coherent programme of clinical and public health research that significantly contributes towards improving the treatment of childhood obesity in the NHS. This programme integrates public-health and clinical perspectives and comprises linked studies: Impact of the National Child Measurement Programme; Improving Childhood Obesity Management; Healthy Eating Lifestyle Programme; Effectiveness of Anti-Obesity Drug and Evaluation of an Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Programme [2].