An Evaluation of Childhood Overweight and Obesity Screening and Management in the Primary Care Setting

Background-In Kentucky, 19.7% of children ages 6-11 years old are obese ( Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2013). Approximately 50% of these children will become obese adults (Lazarou & Kouta, 2010). It is imperative that interventions are initiated to normalize weight in childhood to offset the long term physical and psychosocial risks associated with obesity. Purpose-The purpose of this gap analysis was to evaluate the screening and management of childhood overweight and obesity in one of Norton’s healthcare primary care setting. Methods-The electronic medical records of 35 children aged 10 to 11, who had BMIs \u3e 85th percentile were reviewed to evaluate the screening, diagnosis, and management of their weight. Focused interviews with the primary care providers were conducted to evaluate perceived barriers in the screening and management of childhood overweight and obesity. Results-All children had a BMI percentile recorded yet no diagnosis of overweight or obesity was listed. There was no consistency between weight management plans and no follow-up appointments were made. No association was found between those with a previous well child check where a management plan was documented and a subsequent BMI. The provider interviews revealed perceived barriers in diagnosing and managing childhood obesity. Conclusion-The recorded BMI percentile is not utilized for a comprehensive management plan. The inconsistency in the assessment and history contributes to a lack of individualization and follow-up for weight management