Fighting childhood obesity: Resources for the community pediatrician. Part 2 of 2

Since 1980, the prevalence of obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 95th percentile) in the United States has tripled. Currently, 9.5% of infants and toddlers are overweight (≥95th percentile of weight-for-length), 16.9% of children aged 2 to 19 years are obese, and 31.7% of all children are overweight (BMI ≥ 85th percentile).¹

Although the obesity epidemic has stabilized in the past few years, prevalence rates remain unacceptably high, particularly among Hispanic boys, non-Hispanic black girls, and low-income preschool-aged children.² Overweight and obesity in childhood often leads to adult obesity,³ and obese adults are at risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and early mortality.^4-8

At higher BMIs, health consequences such as elevated lipid concentrations and blood pressure emerge in the pediatric years,⁹ requiring the pediatrician to gain new expertise in the screening and management of these once-considered "adult" diseases.

The AAP policy statement on community pediatrics (2005) emphasizes that in a rapidly changing society, pediatricians must become integrated with the community to prevent and treat disease and disability.¹² Former AAP President Robert Haggarty, MD, FAAP, reminds us, "We must become partners with others, or we will become increasingly irrelevant to the health of children."¹³

Where to begin