Clinical care for obesity: A preliminary survey of sixty-eight countries.

Obesity is a chronic relapsing condition affecting a rapidly increasing number of people worldwide. The United Nations has stated that universal health coverage is an essential element of the globally-agreed sustainable development goals. This article provides a preliminary report of a survey of relevant health professionals and other interest groups on the readiness of health systems to provide obesity treatment services.

Child and adolescent obesity: part of a bigger picture.

The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has risen substantially worldwide in less than one generation. In the USA, the average weight of a child has risen by more than 5 kg within three decades, to a point where a third of the country's children are overweight or obese. Some low-income and middle-income countries have reported similar or more rapid rises in child obesity, despite continuing high levels of undernutrition.

Estimated burden of paediatric obesity and co-morbidities in Europe. Part 2. Numbers of children with indicators of obesity-related disease.

Objectives: Obesity in childhood is associated with the presence of risk factors for later disease and with the early development of these diseases. This paper aims to estimate the numbers of children with obesity-related disease risk factors and co-morbidities in the European Union (EU).

Methods: A search of the scientific literature identified prevalence rates relating variously to impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinaemia, type 2 diabetes, several cardiovascular risk factors, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and the metabolic disease syndrome among obese children.

Estimated burden of paediatric obesity and co-morbidities in Europe. Part 1. The increase in the prevalence of child obesity in Europe is itself increasing.

Objectives: Surveys have shown the prevalence of overweight among school age children to be as high as 35% in parts of Europe, and several countries have reported prevalence rates increasing year-on-year. The purpose of the present paper is to review the rate of change in prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in the European region.

Methods: A search of published and unpublished surveys was undertaken to find pairs of surveys that could indicate rates of change of prevalence within comparable population groups using comparable measures.

Child overweight and obesity in the USA: prevalence rates according to IOTF definitions.

Aims: To establish the prevalence of child overweight and obesity in the USA using IOTF-recommended definitions.

Methods: Original data from the NHANES surveys for 1999-2000 and 2003-2004 were analysed using the IOTF cut-offs and prevalence levels calculated using sample weightings provided.

Results: In 1999-2000, overweight (including obesity) was affecting 29% of school-age children.