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Childhood Obesity: Evidence-Based Guidelines for Clinical Practice-Part One
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Childhood Obesity: Evidence-Based Guidelines for Clinical Practice-Part One

Michele L. Polfuss, Karen G. Duderstadt, Jill F. Kilanowski, Mary E. Thompson, Renee L. Davis and Margaret Quinn
Journal of pediatric health care, Vol.34(3), pp.283-290
05/2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2019.12.003
PMID: 32005502
Web of Science ID: WOS:000534220400015

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11 Times Cited - Web of Science

Abstract

espite the focus on reducing childhood overweight and obesity in the United States over the past decade, recent reports indicate an increasing trend in prevalence among youth 2–19 years of age (Hales, Carroll, Fryar, & Ogden, 2017; Skinner, Ravanbakht, Skelton, Perrin, & Armstrong, 2018). The overall prevalence of childhood obesity in 2016 was 18.5%, with significantly higher prevalence among non-Hispanic black youth (22.0%) and Hispanic youth (25.8%; Hales et al., 2017). Particularly concerning is the latest obesity prevalence rate of 13.9% among children 2–5 years old, which increased 5% since 2014 (Hales et al., 2017; Skinner et al., 2018). Moreover, the risk of adolescent obesity is 1.4 times higher in those who are overweight or obese at 3 years of age (Geserick et al., 2018). Of further concern are the comorbidities of adult obesity, including hypertension, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and type 2 diabetes, are now prevalent in childhood (Pulgarón, 2013). Childhood overweight and obesity have become a primary public health concern, and the publications related to this topic have dramatically increased. Pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) working within the clinical environment recognize the importance of evidence-based practice. Barriers to implementing evidence-based practice can include the amount of evidence, the time needed to review, and the ability to discern the highest quality of evidence in an efficient manner (Tacia, Biskupski, Pheley, & Lehto, 2015). Randomized controlled trials provide the best evidence for the management and treatment of chronic conditions. However, the number of randomized controlled, longitudinal studies on effective interventions and treatments for childhood overweight and obesity is limited. Consequently, pediatric PCPs have relied on clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to provide evidence-based information concisely for the management of childhood overweight and obesity to improve patient care and overall child health outcomes (Pulgarón, 2013). Currently, there are many CPGs of variable strength and quality aimed at the management and treatment of childhood overweight and obesity. The purpose of this review was to conduct a comprehensive appraisal of evidence-based CPGs focused on the assessment, prevention, management, and treatment of childhood overweight and obesity and to present the information in a format to facilitate the work of the practicing provider.

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