Recommendations for growth monitoring, and prevention and management of overweight and obesity in children and youth in primary care

Citation

Parkin P, Connor Gorber S, Shaw E, Bell N, Jaramillo A, Tonelli M & Brauer P (2015) Recommendations for growth monitoring, and prevention and management of overweight and obesity in children and youth in primary care. Brown T (Researcher) CMAJ, 187 (6), pp. 411-421. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.141285

Abstract
First paragraph: The prevalence of obesity in Canadian children has risen dramatically from the late 1970s, more than doubling among both boys and girls. Based on growth curves generated by the World Health Organization, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Canadian children aged 2 to 17 years in 2004 was about 35%. More recent estimates from 2009 to 2011 based on measured weight and height for children aged 5 to 17 years suggest that 32% are overweight (20%) or obese (12%), with the prevalence of obesity almost twice as high in boys (15%) than in girls (8%) (Appendix 1, available at www.cmaj.ca/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1503/cmaj.141285/-/DC1). Studies suggest that excess weight in children often persists into adulthood. Childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in adolescence and later in life.

Notes
Article authored by Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care

Journal
CMAJ: Volume 187, Issue 6