AAP Weighs in on
Preventing Childhood Obesity
Below is a press release published in the August issue of
Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) regarding their new policy statement advocating clinical recommendations
for the prevention of and early identification of overweight and obesity in children. The
policy is available at
http://www.aap.org/policy/s100029.html.
For Release: August 4, 2003, 12:01 am (ET)
Citation: Committee on Nutrition. Prevention of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity.
Pediatrics 2003; 112: 424-430.
Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/augobesity.htm
CHICAGO - The dramatic increase in the prevalence of overweight children,
and the associated health and financial burdens, are issues every pediatrician faces on a
daily basis. A new policy from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) entitled,
"Prevention of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity" proposes strategies to foster prevention
and early identification of overweight and obesity in children.
A primary diagnostic tool suggested by the AAP is body mass index (BMI), the ratio of
weight to height. BMI is widely used to define overweight and obesity, and significant
changes in a child's BMI should be recognized and addressed before the child becomes
severely overweight. The policy points out that some parents may not recognize or accept
the potential risk of their child being overweight. It also notes that anticipatory
guidance or treatment intervention before obesity has become severe will likely be more
successful.
According to the statement, the number of overweight and obese children has doubled in the
last two decades. Currently, 15.3 percent of 6- to 11-year-olds and 15.5 percent of 12- to
19-year-olds are at or above the 95th percentile for BMI.
Recommendations in the policy include:
* Identify and track patients at risk by virtue of family history, birth weight,
socioeconomic, ethnic, cultural or environmental factors
* Calculate and plot BMI once a year in all children and adolescents.
* Use change in BMI to identify rate of excessive weight gain relative to linear growth.
* Encourage, support and protect breastfeeding.
* Encourage parents and caregivers to promote healthy eating patterns.
* Routinely promote physical activity, including unstructured play.
* Recommend limitation of television and video time to a maximum of two hours per day.
The new policy advocates that pediatricians help parents, coaches and others who influence
youth to discuss health habits, not body build, as part of their efforts to control
overweight and obesity.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of
57, 000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric
surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children,
adolescents and young adults.
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