Episode 22 with Lizzie Wilson: The Complexities of Childhood Obesity

The Public Health Report

For our 22nd episode, we’re covering the controversial new practice guidelines for childhood obesity.

The CDC reported that the obesity prevalence for children and adolescents aged 2-19 was nearly 20%[1] from 2017-2020, and a predictive epidemiological study out of the New England Journal of Medicine found that the estimated risk of adult obesity at age 35 for this population could be as high as 57%. If that sounds like a serious cause for concern, that’s because it is. Undoubtedly, childhood obesity is a leading public health challenge. But, what exactly is obesity and what are the health risks associated with it?

References:

Childhood Obesity Facts (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html

Ward ZJ, Long MW, Resch SC, Giles CM, Cradock AL, Gortmaker SL. Simulation of Growth Trajectories of Childhood Obesity into Adulthood. N Engl J Med. 2017 Nov 30;377(22):2145-2153. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1703860. PMID: 29171811; PMCID: PMC9036858.

Karnik S, Kanekar A. Childhood obesity: a global public health crisis. Int J Prev Med. 2012 Jan;3(1):1-7. PMID: 22506094; PMCID: PMC3278864.

Kirkilas G. (updated 2022). Body-Mass Index (BMI) in Children, American Academy of Pediatrics: Healthy Children. Retrieved from: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/obesity/Pages/Body-Mass-Index-Formula.aspx

Sarah E. Hampl, Sandra G. Hassink, Asheley C. Skinner, Sarah C. Armstrong, Sarah E. Barlow, Christopher F. Bolling, Kimberly C. Avila Edwards, Ihuoma Eneli, Robin Hamre, Madeline M. Joseph, Doug Lunsford, Eneida Mendonca, Marc P. Michalsky, Nazrat Mirza, Eduardo R. Ochoa, Mona Sharifi, Amanda E. Staiano, Ashley E. Weedn, Susan K. Flinn, Jeanne Lindros, Kymika Okechukwu; Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity. Pediatrics February 2023; 151 (2): e2022060640. 10.1542/peds.2022-060640

University of Michigan (2023). NEW CHILDHOOD OBESITY GUIDELINES MAY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD, Futurity. Retrieved from: https://www.futurity.org/childhood-obesity-kids-health-2873042-2/

Radde K. (2023). New childhood obesity guidance raises worries over the risk of eating disorders, NPR. Retrieved from: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/15/1155521908/eating-disorder-obesity-guidance-risk-weight-loss

López-Gil JF, García-Hermoso A, Smith L, et al. Global Proportion of Disordered Eating in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis . JAMA Pediatr. Published online February 20, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5848

Skerrett P. (2013). Overweight and healthy: the concept of metabolically healthy obesity, Harvard Health Publishing. Retrieved from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/overweight-and-healthy-the-concept-of-metabolically-healthy-obesity-201309246697

University of Michigan (2023). NEW CHILDHOOD OBESITY GUIDELINES MAY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD, Futurity. Retrieved from: https://www.futurity.org/childhood-obesity-kids-health-2873042-2/

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