High Body Mass Index in Children and Adolescents: Interventions

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that clinicians provide children and adolescents 6 years or older who have a high body mass index (BMI) with comprehensive, intensive behavioral interventions or refer them to appropriate health care professionals. A high BMI is defined as being at a weight in the 95th percentile or above for their age and sex.

Interventions may include supervised physical activity sessions and providing information about healthy eating, safe exercising, and reading food labels (for both children and adolescents and their parents or caregivers).

USPSTF points out that more research is needed on the long-term health outcomes (at least 2 years) and the benefits of behavioral and pharmacotherapy interventions.