Obesity Canada publishes landmark guideline for pediatric obesity care

A new clinical practice guideline published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal offers healthcare professionals and families a roadmap for “collaborative, fully informed, and evidence-based” management for childhood and adolescent obesity.

Developed by Obesity Canada, the guideline is the result of a four-year participatory effort involving youth and caregivers with lived experience, medical experts, and researchers. It is the first Canadian update in nearly two decades.

It outlines ten clinical recommendations and nine good practice statements that emphasize improving quality of life, mental health, and long-term health outcomes over weight loss alone.

Obesity Canada highlights approximately 25% of four- to 11-year-olds and 33% of 12- to 17-year-olds in Canada have an elevated body mass index (BMI) that may indicate overweight or obesity. “While Canadian statistics are lacking, severe obesity appears to be on the rise globally according to recent international data,” underscores the organization.

Key elements of the new guideline include shared decision-making with families, the use of multicomponent behavioral interventions — such as physical activity, nutrition guidance, and psychological support — and careful consideration of medication and surgery when appropriate. 

The guideline also addresses the importance of affordability and accessibility in choosing treatments.

“Waiting until adulthood only prolongs stigma and worsens health outcomes,” says Obesity Canada’s executive director, Lisa Schaffer.

Expanding childhood obesity interventions

Experts hope this milestone will guide future policy and expand access to obesity services across Canada.

In other moves to combat childhood obesity, Mexico has recently banned school junk food in an initiative led by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The initiative promotes healthy alternatives, such as regional and seasonal plants without added sugar or salt, in addition to promoting plain water and nutrition education while having oversight on food preparation and vendor compliance.

Previous research on childhood weight management uncovered that food insecurity in the early lives of children or their pregnant mothers increases kids’ chance of developing obesity or severe obesity in childhood and adolescence by 50%. Moreover, these children also had a higher BMI at ages five and 15.