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Title: Endocrine Society Releases Guidelines on the Treatment of Paediatric Obesity
URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22E13A.htm
Doctor's Guide
October 3, 2008

CHEVY CHASE, Md -- October 3, 2008 -- The Endocrine Society has released a new clinical practice guideline for the prevention and treatment of paediatric obesity. A rapid release version of the guideline has been published online and will appear in the December issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

"The increased prevalence of childhood obesity is particularly important as it is predictive of adult obesity, which is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension," said Gilbert August, MD, George Washington School of Medicine, Washington, DC. "This new guideline provides evidence-based recommendations to prevent and treat this growing epidemic."

The guideline recommends that:
· Overweight be defined as having a body mass index (BMI) >85th percentile by <95th percentile, and obesity as BMI >95th percentile.
· Prescribing and supporting intensive lifestyle (dietary, physical activity, and behavioural) modification as the prerequisite for any treatment.
· Evaluating for obesity-associated comorbidities in children with BMI >85th percentile.
· Pharmacotherapy (in combination with lifestyle modification) should be considered (1) in obese children only after failure of a formal program of intensive lifestyle modification and (2) in overweight children only if severe comorbidities persist despite intensive lifestyle modification.
· Pharmacotherapy should be provided only by clinicians who are experienced in the use of antiobesity agents and aware of the potential for adverse reactions.
· Bariatric surgery should be pursued for adolescents with BMI >50, or >40 with severe comorbidities, in whom lifestyle modification and/or pharmacotherapy have failed.
· Clinicians should emphasise the prevention of obesity by recommending breast-feeding of infants for at least 6 months and advocating that schools provide for 60 minutes of moderate to vigourous daily exercise in all grades.

SOURCE: The Endocrine Society

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