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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

High Body Mass Index in Children and Adolescents: Interventions

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Last Reviewed: June 2024

Workgroups: Nutrition and Weight Status Workgroup

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.

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Objectives related to this resource (1)

Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents with obesity — NWS‑04
LHI label
Little or no detectable change

Suggested Citation

1.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2024). High Body Mass Index in Children and Adolescents: Interventions. Retrieved from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/obesity-in-children-and-adolescents-screening.