ARS | Publication request: Prevention of child and adolescent overweight and obesity

Submitted to: Elsevier
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: November 13, 2009
Publication Date: January 1, 2011
Citation: Baranowski, T. 2011. Prevention of child and adolescent overweight and obesity. In: Serrano-Rios, M., Ordovas, J.M., Gutierrez-Fuentes, J.A. editors. Obesity. Barcelona, Espana: Elsevier. p. 267-275.

Technical Abstract: In 2003-04, approximately 34.3% of 12-19 year olds and 37.2% of 6-11 year olds in the US were overweight or obese. Among samples with predominantly ethnic minorities in the US, 49% of middle school children were overweight or obese. Increasing prevalence of pediatric overweight and obesity has been documented in most countries around the globe. Pediatric overweight and obesity increases the likelihood of adult obesity, which has been associated with increased risk for a large number of chronic illnesses, a lower quality of life and increased medical costs. Since elevated risk factors for adult chronic diseases have been documented among children, and body weight is difficult to take off once gained, there has been increasing interest in preventing obesity at the earliest ages, hopefully when behaviors are easiest to change. While treatment of obesity to attain weight loss in an important issue among adults, there has been, more interest among children to prevent weight gain, with the belief that children will "grow into their weight". As a result, there have been many and strident calls for pediatric obesity prevention interventions.