[Outpatient treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity]

Obesity in childhood is an increasing problem in both industrial and developing countries. Prevalence rates are up 15% in the U.S.A. and up 10% in Europe. The present paper gives an overview of current research on medical and psychosocial problems associated with childhood obesity. Treatment options are introduced and 24 studies are reviewed in detail with regard to treatment characteristics and outcome.

Medline and PsycINFO searches for outpatient treatment studies on childhood obesity between 1966 and 2003 were carried out.

The limited comparability of the studies necessarily restricts their generalizability.

Implications for the treatment of childhood obesity and further research are discussed.