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ARTICLES: Lacey Benson, Heather J. Baer, and David C. Kaelber Trends in the Diagnosis of Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents: 1999–2007 Pediatrics 2009; 123: e153-e158 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Primary prevention as important as secondary prevention to control child overweight epidemic

Isabelle Pitrou, Viviane Kovess-Masfety   (7 January 2009)

Primary prevention as important as secondary prevention to control child overweight epidemic 7 January 2009
Isabelle Pitrou, Public Health Practitionner (MD) EA 4069 Paris Descartes University, Fondation MGEN for Public Health, Viviane Kovess-Masfety Send letter to journal: Re: Primary prevention as important as secondary prevention to control child overweight epidemic ipitrou{at}mgen.fr Isabelle Pitrou, et al.	We read with great interest the article of Benson et al. on trends of the diagnosis of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents (1). In this retrospective review of medical records, the authors found that a large percentage of overweight and obese patients remained undiagnosed. They conclude that identification of overweight and obese patients is the first step in addressing the growing epidemic of weight problems in this population. What we can add is that primary prevention interventions are also important measures in the control of this public heath issue. Once the state of obesity is reached (relative BMI >121%), it has been shown that the longer lasting care became more complex and frequently unsuccessful (2). Primary prevention measures (i.e.; specific individual actions including reduction of food intake, increase of energy expenditure, involvement of parents, and child-adolescent himself, education programs aimed at informing individuals) have shown evidence of efficacy. For example, the program APPLE (A Pilot Programme for Lifestyle and Exercise) was a 2-y community-based obesity prevention initiative conducted in primary school children that has shown favourable effects in the control of children BMI by increasing physical activity and the intake of fruit and vegetables, and reducing the intake of sugary drinks (3). Both primary and secondary prevention are critically important to attempts to reverse the escalating rates of overweight and obesity in young persons. References 1. Benson L, Baer HJ, Kaelber DC. Trends in the diagnosis of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents: 1999-2007. Pediatrics 2009;123(1):e153-8. 2. Moya M. An update in prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity. World J Pediatr 2008;4(3):173-85. 3. Taylor RW, McAuley KA, Barbezat W, Farmer VL, Williams SM, Mann JI. Two -year follow-up of an obesity prevention initiative in children: the APPLE project. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;88(5):1371-7. Conflict of Interest: None declared