Obesity in Children & Teens
Obesity is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. In 1998, the National Institutes of Health defined it as a chronic disease. This designation was an attempt to destigmatize obesity and recognize its causes, which include genetic, environmental, psychological, and socioeconomic factors. Since the environment is obesogenic, and obesity is a risk factor for significant comorbidity, it is essential to diagnose and treat obesity in a non-stigmatizing and evidence-based manner.
Key Points
Multifactorial considerations
Obesity is multifactorial and not a result of personal or familial
failure. Racism, poverty, and other social determinants of health are important
risk factors to consider.
Diagnosing obesity
Body mass index (BMI) is the most straight-forward and commonly
available tool for diagnosis of obesity.
Screen for comorbidities
Obesity is both a chronic disease as well as a risk- factor for
other chronic diseases. The more severe the obesity, the higher the risk for
comorbidities. [Skinner: 2015] Screening for
comorbidities is a cornerstone of obesity management (see below for screening
guidelines).
Management
Treatment includes nutrition support, physical activity treatment,
behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and pharmacotherapy. There is no evidence
to support watchful waiting.
Weighing treatment risks
Risks of treatment include weight fluctuations and disordered
eating. Multiple studies have shown a decrease in disordered eating when
children are enrolled in structured weight management programs. Current
guidelines stress that the risks of obesity and comorbid conditions outweigh the
risks of treatment.
Role of primary care
The medical home is pivotal in diagnosing, treating, and
preventing childhood obesity. [Daniels: 2015]
Primary prevention includes efforts to influence, in healthy directions, the
eating and activity behavior of all children. Secondary prevention efforts are
those thrisk at are directed toward children who, for whatever reason, are at
greater than average risk of becoming obese. Tertiary prevention is designed to
prevent the consequences of obesity and would be considered treatment. Treatment
details can be found below. [Daniels: 2015]
Practice Guidelines
In 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a new Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children with Obesity. The full report and executive summary are listed below:
-
Hampl SE, Hassink SG, Skinner AC, Armstrong SC, Barlow SE, Bolling CF, Avila Edwards KC, Eneli I, Hamre R, Joseph MM, Lunsford D, Mendonca E, Michalsky MP, Mirza N, Ochoa ER, Sharifi M, Staiano AE, Weedn AE, Flinn SK, Lindros J, Okechukwu K.
Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity.
Pediatrics. 2023;151(2). PubMed abstract / Full Text -
Hampl SE, Hassink SG, Skinner AC, Armstrong SC, Barlow SE, Bolling CF, Avila Edwards KC, Eneli I, Hamre R, Joseph MM, Lunsford D, Mendonca E, Michalsky MP, Mirza N, Ochoa ER, Sharifi M, Staiano AE, Weedn AE, Flinn SK, Lindros J, Okechukwu K.
Executive Summary: Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity.
Pediatrics. 2023;151(2). PubMed abstract / Full Text
Screening for Risk Factors
Screening children for risk factors associated with obesity is the principal method for determining which children are candidates for secondary prevention efforts. Screening involves assessing factors from the history and observing an infant or child’s growth pattern. In the 2023 guideline, the American Academy of Pediatrics places increased focus on how social determinants of health and systemic factors increase risks for individuals. The presence of risk factors should prompt the provider to provide early anticipatory guidance for overweight and obesity prevention.
The AAP consensus recommendation is to “perform initial and longitudinal assessment of individual, structural, and contextual risk factors to provide individualized and tailored treatment of the child or adolescent with overweight or obesity." [Hampl: 2023]
Risk Factors
Studies have consistently shown that overweight and obesity are influenced by genetics. However, the degree to which individuals are affected varies. A 2012 meta-analysis with 115 studies found that BMI heritability ranged from 47-90% and 24-81% in twin and family studies, respectively. [Elks: 2012] Parental obesity more than doubles the risk of adult obesity among children under 10 years of age. [Whitaker: 1997] Furthermore, it is important to note that it is not just genetics that affects risk. Genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors modulate this risk and result in intergenerational transmission of adiposity. [Hampl: 2023]
Epigenetic and Prenatal Factors
Although mechanisms are
poorly understood, the intra-uterine environment in which an infant develops
can alter the way genes are expressed.
- Maternal BMI and gestational weight gain are both associated with increased rates of childhood overweight and obesity. [Larqué: 2019]
- Infants and children born to mothers with gestational diabetes have greater adiposity at birth and risk of overweight and obesity in childhood. [Logan: 2017]
- Both environmental tobacco smoke and maternal smoking during pregnancy are associated with increased risk of overweight and obesity. [Qureshi: 2018]
Low (<2500 g) and high (>4000 g) birthweight are associated with higher risks of overweight and obesity. [Larqué: 2019]
Evidence is inconclusive; however, some studies have suggested that early breastfeeding cessation is associated with childhood overweight and obesity. [Larqué: 2019]
Children with rapid early weight gain, defined as crossing 1 or more percentile lines on growth charts in their first two years of life are up to 3.6 times more likely to have overweight and obesity as children and adults. [Zheng: 2018]
The environment in which a child grows has the potential to negatively or positively affect the risk of developing overweight or obesity. For example, studies have shown that children of lower socioeconomic status (SES) are at higher risk of developing obesity. [Hales: 2017] This association is multifactorial and is impacted by public policy factors, how unhealthy food is marketed, school environment, education, access to fresh food or food insecurity, and access to safe physical activity. [Hampl: 2023]
CYSHCN are 27% to 59% more at risk than typically developing children to become overweight or obese. [Bandini: 2015] For example, CYSHCN may have less healthy dietary and physical activity patterns because of medical conditions (e.g., spina bifida or cerebral palsy) that limit or restrict opportunities to be physically active. [Minihan: 2011] They may be taking medications such as atypical antipsychotics (e.g., risperidone), antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and anticonvulsants that increase their risk of excess weight gain. [Vanina: 2002] It is important to carefully monitor the growth patterns of CYSHCN to recognize which of them may be showing a trajectory that may lead to obesity.
Screening for Obesity
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that pediatricians and other primary health care providers annually screen all children ages 2-18 years old for overweight (BMI ≥ 85th percentile to <95th percentile), obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile), and severe obesity (BMI ≥ 120% of the 95th percentile for age and sex) using age- and sex-specific CDC growth charts. Furthermore, due to its ease of use, reproducibility, and sensitivity/specificity, the AAP recommends using body mass index (BMI) as the primary screening and diagnostic tool. [Hampl: 2023]
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Screening for Comorbidities
Children and adolescents with overweight and obesity are at increased risk of associated comorbidities, such as hypertension (HTN), dyslipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), depression, abnormal glucose metabolism and diabetes, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, and polycystic ovarian disease. Although the risk of certain comorbidities is greater among certain racial and ethnic groups, it is important to note that the etiology is multifactorial and is related to the impact of genetic, environmental, and social factors. [Divers: 2020] Screening for these comorbidities should form part of the evaluation of the overweight and obese child, given that weight loss interventions can improve many of these conditions. [Rajjo: 2017] As with any other condition, this begins by obtaining a thorough history, which should include the patient’s trends regarding diet, lifestyle, activity, a family and social history that focuses on obesity-related comorbidities and risk factors, and medications that increase obesity risk.
The review of systems and physical exam should be used to assess for comorbidities. For example, a patient with obesity reporting polyuria coupled with acanthosis nigricans found on exam may have diabetes. The AAP Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents provides comprehensive tables with common system complaints and physical exam findings along with their associated obesity-related causes.
Evaluation
The prevalence of abnormal lipids is 3x higher in children with obesity compared to those with a healthy BMI. [Nguyen: 2015] The AAP recommends screening for dyslipidemia with a fasting lipid profile in children 10 years and older with obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) and overweight (BMI ≥ 85th percentile to <95th percentile). In children 2-9 years of age with obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile), providers may choose to screen for dyslipidemia. [Hampl: 2023].
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in the pediatric population, and overweight/obesity is a strong predictor. [Mayer-Davis: 2017] The AAP recommends screening for abnormal glucose metabolism in children 10 years and older with obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) with fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, or glycosylated hemoglobin. In addition, screening is recommended in children 10 years and older with overweight (BMI ≥ 85th percentile to <95th percentile in the presence of additional risk factors (maternal history of diabetes/gestational diabetes, family history of diabetes in 1st or 2nd degree relative, signs of insulin resistance, and use of obesogenic medications. [Hampl: 2023] [Andes: 2020] See Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes Screening & Management Care Process Model.
Children with overweight and obesity have increased risk of NAFLD, and some studies have reported rates as high as 34% in children with obesity. [Anderson: 2015] The AAP and the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) recommend screening for NAFLD using aspartate transaminase in children 10 years and older with obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile). Additionally, children 10 years and older with overweight (BMI ≥ 85th percentile to <95th percentile. [Hampl: 2023] should be screened in the presence of additional risk factors (family history of NAFLD, central adiposity, signs of insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and sleep apnea. [Hampl: 2023]
HTN in childhood increases the risk of HTN in adulthood, and its prevalence is directly related to BMI percentile. [Chen: 2008] The AAP recommends measuring blood pressure at every visit starting at 3 years in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. [Hampl: 2023]
Risks of Screening
Consideration must be given to the risk of performing unnecessary testing and its accompanying cost. However, given the large impact of the morbidity associated with obesity-related conditions, it is likely that the benefits outweigh the risks. Furthermore, there seems to be a higher likelihood of severe disease or progression in pediatric patients with obesity compared to adult counterparts. [Harlow: 2018] [Newton: 2016] [Holterman: 2013] This highlights the importance of identifying and treating these conditions sooner rather than later.Treating and Preventing Obesity
Treatment
- Reducing sugar-sweetened beverages (see MyPlate (USDA)
- Encouraging 60 minutes of daily activity
- Reducing sedentary behavior – largely by decreasing screen time. [Daniels: 2015]
Prevention
Some additional strategies used for treatment can, in theory, be used for prevention. The following have moderately convincing evidence or expert consensus to support their role in prevention, and they likely have health benefits beyond obesity treatment and prevention. Many of these are shown to improve outcomes even without weight loss or reduction in BMI. [Lumeng: 2015] [Davis: 2007]
5-2-1-0 A DAY
The 5-2-1-0 message is widely disseminated
and supported by a number of groups and organizations. It is a simple
message that clinicians can deliver to parents and children:
- Five servings of fruits and vegetables
- Less than two hours of screen time
- More than one hour of exercise
- Zero sweetened beverages
Consistent with the AAP approval of a serving of 100% juice, some have modified this to “5-2-1-almost none per day.
Limit Screen Time
Most studies regarding screen time
have focused on television. Some, but not all, studies have shown a
correlation between hours of TV watched and risk of increased adiposity.
Given this correlation, the AAP recommends no screen time for children under
18 months and 1 hour or less per day for children aged 2-5 years. [Healthy: 2023] For children over age 5, the
AAP suggests families have a plan to limit excessive use but without an
official upper limit. [Council: 2022]
60 Minutes of Daily Exercise
Aerobic exercise is
associated with multiple benefits in pediatric patients, including improved
bone health, decreased BMI, cardiorespiratory fitness, improved cognition,
and reduced risk of depression. The United States Department of Health and
Human Services recommends 60 minutes daily or more of moderate to vigorous
aerobic exercise. [Piercy: 2018]
No (or almost no) Sweetened Beverages
Strong evidence
associates the intake of sweetened beverages with obesity or excess
adiposity. [Luger: 2017] Sweetened
beverages include soda, sports beverages, and sweetened fruit drinks.
Current evidence does not support an association between 100% fruit juice
and obesity unless consumed in “large quantities.” The AAP currently
recommends that consumption of 100% fruit juice be limited to 1 serving (4-6
oz.) per day for children between 1 and 6 years old and no more than 8 oz
for children ages 7-14 years old. [Korioth: 2019] Some pediatricians have questioned the benefits of juice
and have recommended that its consumption be even more limited—perhaps to
“none.”
Breakfast
Skipping breakfast has been associated with
more metabolic dysfunction, including greater waist circumference, higher
fasting insulin, higher total cholesterol, and higher LDL, even after
adjusting for other potential confounders. [Odegaard: 2013]
[Szajewska: 2010] Overweight and obese adolescents are more likely than
those of normal weight to skip breakfast. When they do eat breakfast, it is
smaller and of a lower nutritional quality. Although no evidence
demonstrates that eating breakfast will prevent obesity, no evidence
suggests that such a strategy would be harmful.
Appropriate Sleep
There is an association between higher
BMI and shorter sleep duration. It may be that decreased sleep increases the
hormone ghrelin and decreases leptin, which leads to hunger. Insufficient
sleep is associated with increased calorie consumption and decreased
physical activity due to fatigue. Encouraging healthy sleep patterns is
recommended. [Ruan: 2015]
Nutrition and Children with Complex Health Care Needs
Parents of CYSHCN are often concerned about whether their child’s nutritional needs are being met. Some of these children may have difficulty achieving adequate calories to support appropriate growth, and parents may offer foods that are higher in “empty” calories in the hope that their child will gain weight. Achieving the recommended 5 servings a day of fruits and vegetables may be particularly challenging. It is important to individualize recommendations for calories and dietary constituents based on the child’s condition and potential for physical activity. Careful monitoring of growth trajectories to ensure that the child’s growth is consistent and that weight gain is not excessive for the child’s height is probably the best way of knowing whether more specific recommendations regarding the child’s diet are necessary. It may be appropriate to refer the family to a registered dietician for specific advice regarding the child’s unique needs.
Services & Referrals
Behavioral Therapies
(see NW providers
[1])
Families with children <10 years old may benefit from a
behavioral program that offers child and family counseling focusing on learning
new skills, problem-solving, and managing feelings.
Food & Nutrition > …
(see NW providers
[3])
Refer at onset (or during the first appointment with a patient
with obesity) to receive counseling regarding diet and assist with diagnosing
eating disorders. Refer to assist in treating eating disorders and teaching
healthy living habits.
Weight Loss Programs
(see NW providers
[0])
Referral may be helpful to reach weight goals.
Resources
Information & Support
Related Portal Content:
For Professionals
Obesity & Children with Special Needs (AbilityPath.org) ( 1.7 MB)
Excellent presentation detailing the particular risks for CYSCHN and obesity. Includes practical approaches for parents and
health care professionals.
Disability and Obesity (CDC)
Summarizes the factors that contribute to some individuals with disabilities being at higher risk for obesity and provides
guidance on possible interventions; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For Parents and Patients
Live Well (Intermountain Healthcare)
Education for families about healthy lifestyles; Intermountain Healthcare.
MyPlate (USDA)
Offers personalized eating plans and interactive tools to help plan and assess food choices; US Department of Agriculture.
Let's Move! (obamawhitehousearchives.gov)
Resources for families, parents, children, communities, and health care providers for providing healthy food in schools, improving
access to healthy, affordable foods, and increasing physical activity; First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative for healthy
families.
Nutrition & Fitness (KidsHealth)
Nutrition, fitness, and overall health information for parents, kids, teens, and educators. Includes recipes, safety tips,
and discussion of feelings; sponsored by the Nemours Foundation.
Tools
BMI Males 2-20 Years (CDC) ( 62 KB)
Body mass index for age percentiles; Centers for Disease Control.
BMI Females 2-20 Years (CDC) ( 68 KB)
Body mass index for age percentiles; Centers for Disease Control.
BMI Percentile Calculator for Children and Teens (CDC)
The calculator provides BMI, BMI-for-age percentile, and an easy-to-read interpretation. Results can also be viewed on a CDC
BMI-for-age growth chart; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Clinical Growth Charts (CDC & WHO)
Provides links to 2 comprehensive sets of growth charts: the CDC Clinical Growth Charts (preferred for use with children 24
months and older) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Charts (preferred for children under 24 months); Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Services for Patients & Families Nationwide (NW)
Service Categories | # of providers* in: | NW | Partner states (4) (show) | | NM | NV | RI | UT | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Behavioral Therapies | 1 | 17 | 19 | 32 | 36 | ||||
Dieticians and Nutritionists | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | ||||
Food & Nutrition | 3 | 8 | 286 | 31 | 210 | ||||
Weight Loss Programs | 2 |
For services not listed above, browse our Services categories or search our database.
* number of provider listings may vary by how states categorize services, whether providers are listed by organization or individual, how services are organized in the state, and other factors; Nationwide (NW) providers are generally limited to web-based services, provider locator services, and organizations that serve children from across the nation.
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