January 25, 2010 - Screening for Obesity in Children & Adolescents

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a report by the US Preventive Services Task Force entitled Screening for Obesity in Children and Adolescents: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. This report provides an update of the 2005 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) statement about screening for overweight in children and adolescents.

Summary

Since the 1970s, childhood and adolescent obesity has increased three- to sixfold. Approximately 12% to 18% of 2-to 19-year-old children and adolescents are obese (defined as having an age- and gender-specific BMI at_95th percentile). BMI values are used to determine a percentile score on the basis of population-based references such as those developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The 2000 CDC growth charts that are used to calculate BMI were developed with data from 5 national health examination surveys that occurred from 1963 to 1994 and supplemental data from surveys that occurred from 1960 to 1995.

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that clinicians screen children aged 6 years and older for obesity and offer them or refer them to comprehensive, intensive behavioral interventions to promote improvement in weight status.

This report may be of interest to border health partners and others in the United States-México border region.

To view this report, click here: