A consensus statement on childhood obesity was published today in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, one of the four journals of The Endocrine Society.
The consensus statement reflects the conclusions from an international summit held in Israel last year and includes a controversial recommendation to classify obesity as a disease. This landmark statement reviews the available research evidence on the diagnosis, prevalence, causes (including endocrine disorders), risks, prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.
Pediatric obesity is now recognized as a major medical and health problem all over the world. Researchers have found that children who are obese have a higher risk for adult obesity, which is strongly associated with many serious medical complications that impair quality of life and lead to additional increased health risks. Approximately 14-15 percent of all 15-year-olds in the United States can be classified as obese. The statement notes that, between the years 1980 and 2000, the prevalence of overweight children doubled among children aged six to 11 and tripled among those aged 12-17. The U.S. ranked among the highest of 15 countries in the study in terms of prevalence of overweight and obese boys and girls.
"Our goal is to emphasize the safest means for primary care physicians to manage obese patients," says Dr. Henry Anhalt, a participant of the Obesity Consensus Working Group and physician at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey. "These recommendations should provide incentive for the public and private sectors to mobilize resources to stem the tide of increasing body mass in children and adults."
By classifying obesity as a legitimate disease, the consensus statement paves the way for public funding and insurer's reimbursement for obesity treatment programs and spurring further research to more effectively prevent and treat obesity. With health care costs of patients whose body mass index (BMI) is greater than 35 reaching 44 percent more than those of non-obese patients, the need for a consensus among physicians and health professionals is necessary. These recommendations not only provide a platform for future corrective action but encourage early intervention at the onset of obesity.