Descriptive epidemiology and health consequences of childhood obesity

John J Reilly

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

162 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Obesity is now the most common disorder of childhood in the developed world, and its prevalence is still increasing. A large body of high-quality and consistent evidence shows that it is best defined using the body mass index (BMI) percentile relative to national BMI reference data. This definition diagnoses excessive fatness adequately, and denotes increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Future research may provide improved obesity definitions for epidemiological use, so that the obesity epidemic can be monitored more effectively. Paediatric obesity causes ill health in both childhood and adulthood, though further research is required on the economic consequences, on some of the co-morbidities in childhood (notably psychological morbidity), and in adulthood where the amount of empirical evidence on long-term effects is limited. The combination of high prevalence with adverse consequences has created a public health crisis.
LanguageEnglish
Pages327-341
Number of pages15
JournalBest Practice and Research: Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume19
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sep 2005

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Pediatric Obesity
Epidemiology
Obesity
Health
Body Mass Index
Morbidity
Public Health
Economics
Psychology
Research

Keywords

  • obesity
  • paediatric
  • diagnosis
  • co-morbidity
  • socio-economic status

Cite this

Reilly, John J. / Descriptive epidemiology and health consequences of childhood obesity. In: Best Practice and Research: Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism . 2005 ; Vol. 19, No. 3. pp. 327-341.
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Reilly, JJ 2005, 'Descriptive epidemiology and health consequences of childhood obesity' Best Practice and Research: Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism , vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 327-341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beem.2005.04.002

Descriptive epidemiology and health consequences of childhood obesity. / Reilly, John J.

In: Best Practice and Research: Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism , Vol. 19, No. 3, 09.2005, p. 327-341.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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Reilly JJ. Descriptive epidemiology and health consequences of childhood obesity. Best Practice and Research: Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism . 2005 Sep;19(3):327-341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beem.2005.04.002

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