Pediatric Obesity

Publication Date: January 31, 2017

Key Points

Key Points

Pediatric obesity remains an ongoing serious international health concern affecting ~17% of US children and adolescents, threatening their adult health and longevity.

Pediatric obesity has its basis in genetic susceptibilities influenced by a permissive environment starting in utero and extending through childhood and adolescence.

Genetic screening for rare syndromes is indicated only in the presence of specific historical or physical features.

Endocrine etiologies for obesity are rare and usually are accompanied by attenuated growth patterns.

Pediatric comorbidities are common, and long-term health complications often result. Screening for comorbidities of obesity should be applied in a hierarchal, logical manner for early identification before more serious complications result.

The psychological toll of pediatric obesity on the individual and family necessitates screening for mental health issues and counseling as indicated.

The prevention of pediatric obesity by promoting healthful diet, activity, and environment should be a primary goal, since achieving effective, long-lasting results with lifestyle modification once obesity occurs is difficult.

Diagnosis

...iagnosi...

...osing Overweight and Obesity...

...mmends using body mass index (BMI) and the Centers...

...s diagnosing a child or adolescent >2...

...suggests that clinicians take into acco...

...ggests calculating, plotting, and reviewin...

...ests that a child...

...ainst routine laboratory evaluations for endocri...

...at children or adolescents with a...

...commends against measuring insulin concentrati...


...etic Obesity Syndro...

...tic testing in patients with extre...


...Prevalence of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity in...


Table 2. Screening for Comorbidities of Pedi...


Prevention

Prevention

...ests that clinicians promote and participate...


...mends that clinicians prescribe and...


...ends that children and adolescents enga...


ES suggests fostering healthy sleep pattern...


...ends balancing unavoidable technolo...


...that a clinician’s obesity prevention eff...


...suggests that clinicians assess family func...


...ests using school-based programs and community...


...ecommends using comprehensive behavior...


...recommends breast-feeding in infants based on nume...


...re 1. Diagnosis and Management Flowc...


...Genetic Obesity Syndromes With and With...


Treatment

...eatment...

...estyle: General Considerations...

...recommends that clinicians prescribe and su...

...recommends that clinicians prescribe and support h...

...mmends that clinicians prescribe and support...

...that clinicians encourage and support patients t...

...S suggests that the health care team identify m...

...suggests that the health care team probe...

...suggests that the health care team evaluate fo...

...ests pharmacotherapy for children or adolesce...

...commends against using obesity medications in chi...

...that Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved...

...hat clinicians should discontinue medication and r...

...atric surgery only under the following cond...

...uggests against bariatric surgery in preadolesc...

...re 2. Change in Metabolic Outcome Per Unit Change...


...Factors Associated With Prevention of Pe...


...5. Medications Studied for the Long-T...


...3. Bariatric Surgical Proce...