Doctors do not correctly diagnose overweight in children

Despite the widespread attention of mass media on research that shows that one-third of US children have weight problems, a new study indicates that only about one-third of babies Being overweight or obese receives an accurate diagnosis from a pediatrician. The study, directed by scientists at Metro Health System and Case Western Reserve Medical University in Cleveland, also emphasized that the weakness in this diagnosis greatly affects children, because of disease detection. soon is a great advantage in treatment.

The study was published in the January issue of Pediatrics.

Using electronic medical data (EMR), the researchers examined BMI data of 60,711 children from 2 to 18 years of age who visited at MetroHealth at least once from June 1999 to October 200. This data gives 19% (11,277) weightless children, 23% (14,105) obese, and 8% (4,670) are severely obese. Researchers found that one of the increased BMI groups also increased the accuracy of diagnosis. While 76% of obese children and 54% of severely obese children are diagnosed - only about 10% of overweight patients receive proper diagnosis. (Overweight is defined as a BMI of 85-95 percentile. Obesity is defined as a BMI greater than 96 percentiles. Severe obesity is a BMI equivalent to or greater than 99 percentiles).

Obesity in children. (Photo: fat2fitradio.com)

Doctor, Dr. David C. Kaelber, author of the study, as well as internal medicine doctor and pediatrician at MetroHealth, professor of pediatric medicine and pediatrics at Case Western Reserve Medical University, said. Knowing: 'Despite the specific BMI guidelines, this is a warning for pediatricians that about 90% of overweight children are not accurately diagnosed. Clearly recognizing the new group of children that sheds light on the 'overweight' category is essential for early interventions to prevent not only potential health problems in adolescence, but also long-term problems. adulthood'.

Researchers, including scientists from Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, also found that the proportion of patients whose diagnosed health status increased steadily in the research period until 2005, the diagnostic rate remained the same in 2006 and 2007. This means that the impact on the community on weight issues may have reached its peak. Despite adding BMI in the EMR system from 2004-2007, there was no evidence of an increase in obesity diagnosis during that period.

Dr Kaelber said: ' While early and accurate diagnosis of weight problems is the first necessary step in finding a disease, we must also examine possible solutions. For example, when the role of EMR increases, new methods such as automatic electronic alerts are sent to pediatricians and parents about the child's weight status and automatic application of control programs. Weight is the creative idea of ​​using technology to improve children's health '.