Childhood Obesity: Variations in Management

NCT00160914 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 11408B
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 500
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Childhood obesity has been described as a growing national epidemic. Between 1980 and 1994 the prevalence of childhood obesity doubled with 10% to 15% of children and adolescents being obese. Childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term detrimental consequences for health and well-being. Obese children are at increased risk for coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Obese children are more likely to be at risk for psychological stress and disturbed body image. Moreover, obese children are more likely to become obese adults, especially if weight reduction has not occurred by the end of adolescence. The pediatrician is in an ideal position to assess and manage childhood obesity. Recently, guidelines have been established for the assessment and treatment of childhood obesity. These "best practice" guidelines include recommended diagnostic criteria, assessment of contributing factors such as diet and lifestyle, family history, and treatment choices. Although these guidelines have been introduced little is known about pediatricians' actual practice patterns and their beliefs concerning childhood obesity. Project Description I plan to conduct a national survey of pediatricians to assess common strategies for the identification and management of childhood obesity, along with pediatricians' attitudes and beliefs about childhood obesity. In consultation with a panel of practicing general pediatricians and survey research experts, I plan to develop a survey that measures pediatricians' beliefs about the causes and consequences of childhood obesity, its prevalence in their practice settings, their approaches to diagnosis and management, and resources available for treatment. The survey will be administered to a randomly selected national sample of approximately 600 practicing general pediatricians. The response rate is expected to be approximately 60% or 360 pediatricians. The survey results will help to assess the degree to which recommended practice guidelines are being implemented, identify pediatricians' beliefs and attitudes that might serve as barriers to optimal care, and suggest areas for continuing medical education. The proposed time frame for the study is two years.

Conditions

Obesity

Keywords

Childhood obesity

Interventions

Identification/management of childhood obesity (behavior) BEHAVIORAL

In this project, we plan to conduct a national survey of pediatricians to assess common strategies for identification and management of childhood obesity, along with pediatricians' attitudes and beliefs about childhood obesity.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Practicing general pediatricians

You may qualify if:

• Practicing general pediatricians

You may not qualify if:

• Non practicing general pediatricians

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Chicago: lead
• The Nathan Cummings Foundation: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States

Location

Related Publications (9)

• Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kuczmarski RJ, Johnson CL. Overweight and obesity in the United States: prevalence and trends, 1960-1994. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1998 Jan;22(1):39-47. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0800541.

  PMID: 9481598 BACKGROUND

• Lauer RM, Connor WE, Leaverton PE, Reiter MA, Clarke WR. Coronary heart disease risk factors in school children: the Muscatine study. J Pediatr. 1975 May;86(5):697-706. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(75)80353-2.

  PMID: 1133650 BACKGROUND

• Drash A. Relationship between diabetes mellitus and obesity in the child. Metabolism. 1973 Feb;22(2):337-44. doi: 10.1016/0026-0495(73)90185-6. No abstract available.

  PMID: 4687958 BACKGROUND

• Londe S, Bourgoignie JJ, Robson AM, Goldring D. Hypertension in apparently normal children. J Pediatr. 1971 Apr;78(4):569-77. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(71)80457-2. No abstract available.

  PMID: 5555589 BACKGROUND

• French SA, Story M, Perry CL. Self-esteem and obesity in children and adolescents: a literature review. Obes Res. 1995 Sep;3(5):479-90. doi: 10.1002/j.1550-8528.1995.tb00179.x.

  PMID: 8521169 BACKGROUND

• Serdula MK, Ivery D, Coates RJ, Freedman DS, Williamson DF, Byers T. Do obese children become obese adults? A review of the literature. Prev Med. 1993 Mar;22(2):167-77. doi: 10.1006/pmed.1993.1014.

  PMID: 8483856 BACKGROUND

• Barlow SE, Dietz WH. Obesity evaluation and treatment: Expert Committee recommendations. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services. Pediatrics. 1998 Sep;102(3):E29. doi: 10.1542/peds.102.3.e29.

  PMID: 9724677 BACKGROUND

• American Academy of Pediatrics. Fellowship Directory. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics., 2001.

  BACKGROUND

• Dietz WH, Nelson A. Barriers to the treatment of childhood obesity: a call to action. J Pediatr. 1999 May;134(5):535-6. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(99)70235-0. No abstract available.

  PMID: 10228284 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obesity; Pediatric Obesity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Janis Mendelsohn, M.D.

  University of Chicago

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 8, 2005
• First Posted: September 12, 2005
• Study Start: December 1, 2001
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2010
• Study Completion: August 1, 2010
• Last Updated: April 7, 2016

Record last verified: 2016-04

Locations

US (1)