Childhood obesity

Abstract

Almost a third of 2–15 year olds in the UK are classed as overweight or obese, with an estimated cost to the NHS of £4.2 billion a year. Although there has been a recent plateau in the rise of the prevalence of overweight and obese children, we cannot become complacent; it is estimated that by 2050, two-thirds of children will have an unhealthy weight. The causes of obesity are complex, and the majority of cases are linked to the obesogenic environment in which we now live. Most children who require help with weight management can be managed in primary care, with only a small number of children requiring referral to secondary care. This article will look at the UK and world trends in obesity and how we classify obesity. We will look at the challenges of treating childhood obesity and the best strategies in weight management to use in primary care.