Obesity in children. Tackling a growing problem.

BACKGROUND

Childhood and adolescent obesity has increased dramatically over the past 25 years in Australia. Currently over 20% of Australian children are overweight or obese. The National Health and Medical Research Council has recently developed the 'Clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents'.

OBJECTIVE

This article discusses the assessment and management of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity.

DISCUSSION

Children and adolescents with a body mass index over the 85th centile for age are classified overweight and those over the 95th centile, obese. Obesity has significant health consequences for children and adolescents, both in the short term and for their adult life. Family involvement is important in management, particularly in primary aged children. A combination of dietary modification, increased physical activity, decreased sedentary activity and behaviour modification is recommended.