Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 26, 2026
Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Ambulatory management of childhood obesity
Lakshmi Kolagotla1, William Adams
1Division of General Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. lakolago@bmc.org
Insights
Most primary care physicians lack awareness and adherence to childhood obesity guidelines. However, awareness correlates with better attitudes toward counseling effectiveness and personal ability in managing pediatric obesity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- General Practice
Background:
- Childhood obesity presents a significant public health challenge.
- Effective management strategies are crucial for pediatric health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess pediatricians' and family physicians' ambulatory management of childhood obesity.
- To evaluate physician knowledge of and adherence to established obesity management recommendations.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to 1207 primary care physicians (pediatricians and family physicians).
- The questionnaire assessed management practices, knowledge, and adherence to guidelines for childhood obesity.
Main Results:
- Only 19% of physicians were aware of national childhood obesity recommendations, and 3% adhered to all.
- Physician awareness of recommendations positively influenced attitudes towards counseling ability and efficacy.
- Barriers included patient motivation, noncompliance, and perceived treatment futility.
Conclusions:
- A significant gap exists in physician awareness and adherence to childhood obesity guidelines.
- Enhancing physician knowledge may improve attitudes and potentially patient outcomes in pediatric obesity management.
Objective:
Childhood obesity is one of the most challenging issues facing healthcare providers today. The aims of this study were to describe the ambulatory management of childhood obesity by pediatricians (PDs) and family physicians (FPs) and to evaluate knowledge of and adherence to published recommendations.
Research Methods And Procedures:
A 42-item, self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 1207 randomly selected primary care physicians (PDs = 700, FPs = 507) between September 2001 and January 2002.
Results:
Of 339 (28%) responses, 287 were eligible (PDs = 213, FPs = 74). Most respondents were in group or solo practice (87%) in a suburban or urban, non-inner city location (67%). The average age was 48 years (range = 31 to 85 years), and the mean years in practice was 17 (range = 1 to 55 years). Nineteen percent of physicians were aware of national recommendations. Three percent of physicians reported adherence to all recommendations. Knowledge of recommendations was not associated with a greater likelihood of adherence. However, physicians who were aware of recommendations were more likely to have positive attitudes about personal counseling ability (odds ratio = 2.4, confidence interval = 1.3 to 4.4) and the overall efficacy of obesity counseling (odds ratio = 4.3, confidence interval = 1.7 to 10.8). Poor patient motivation, patient noncompliance, and treatment futility were perceived as the most frequently encountered barriers to obesity treatment.
Discussion:
Most physicians are not aware of or adherent to national recommendations regarding childhood obesity. Awareness of recommendations was associated with more positive attitudes about personal counseling ability and the effectiveness of obesity counseling in general.
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