Applying practice recommendations for the prevention and treatment of obesity in children and adolescents

Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2010 Feb;49(2):137-45. doi: 10.1177/0009922809346567.

Abstract

To describe pediatric clinicians' adherence to practice recommendations for obesity prevention and treatment, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 227 medical records of 3- to 18-year-old patients (seen from September 2003 to April 2004) and a longitudinal analysis of data from 632 overweight and obese patients (followed through March 2006). The cross-sectional analysis showed that early practice adopters (n = 3) more frequently recorded BMI (91% of patients), a diagnosis (89%), and counseling (82%) compared with late adopters (n = 9; 34%, 51%, and 48% of patients, respectively; P < .001). The longitudinal analysis showed that among overweight and obese patients, documentation of BMI dropped from 96% at the first clinic visit to 27% by the fifth visit; documentation of individual risk behaviors fell from >or=72% at the first visit to <or=23% at the fifth visit. Despite initial adoption of screening and assessment practices, clinicians' attention to weight management diminished over time.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Body Mass Index
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Directive Counseling
  • Guideline Adherence*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Obesity / diagnosis*
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Obesity / therapy*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Risk Factors
  • Weight Loss