Author: Miller, L, Grunwald G et al
Source: Journal of Pediatrics 2002. 141: 121-4.
The authors reviewed 50 children?s medical charts to determine if children who had failure to thrive (low body weight in relation to their height) were referred to a nutritionist for follow-up counseling earlier or more frequently than a child with obesity. The reviews were categorized by what degree a child was failing to thrive (FTT) or obese. Certain calculations (the Body Mass Index for obesity and percent ideal body weight for failure to thrive) were used to separate each child into categories. The results showed that in the failure to thrive category, 60% of referrals fell into a ?mild? case of FTT, 30% moderate and none fell into a severe category of failure to thrive. In contrast, 22% of the children in the obesity category were classified as mildly obese, 20% moderately obese and 56% as severely obese (greater than 200% of their ideal body weight for their height on the growth chart). The study results suggest that pediatrician?s are aware and comfortable identifying and referring children with failure to thrive earlier and more frequently than children with obesity. As child and adolescent obesity is becoming more prevalent, they challenge pediatricians to shift their focus towards obesity prevention by making earlier referrals to nutritionists and other services instead of trying to treat the issue when it has reached a dangerously high level.
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