Childhood obesity treatment: Civil society organisations statements and recommendations

Obesity Action Coalition

The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is a non-profit patient organisation dedicated to educating and advocating on behalf of the millions of Americans affected by obesity. By strictly representing the interests and concerns of people living with obesity, the OAC is a unique organisation with a patient-focused approach. 

"Treating Childhood Obesity"

Lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating, exercise and behaviour modification, are the accepted methods for weight loss. Click here to read more. 

American Heart Association

The American Heart Association "has grown into the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organisation dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke." 

"Policy Position Statement on the Prevention, Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Obesity in the Healthcare Environment, December 2007"

This policy position paper not only summarises these recommendations, but also defines the corresponding policy changes that must occur for the recommendations to be fully realised in a healthcare setting. There is a clear link between childhood obesity and cardiovascular health problems as an adult. Thus, the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity will pay dividends in reducing adult cardiovascular disease and disability, averting healthcare costs and the negative impact of cardiovascular disease and productivity in the workforce. Click here to read more. 

Children's Hospital Association 

The Mission of the Children's Hospital Association is "to advance child health through innovation in the quality, cost and delivery of care with our children's hospital." 

"Stages of Obesity Treatment"

The Stages of Obesity Treatment are defined based on the AAP Expert Committee recommendations and are summarised in the following document. Click here to read more. 

"Nutrition Interventions for Stage III Pediatric Weight Management: Consensus of Registered Dietitians on Best Practice" 

This document provdies a summary of current practices on consensus recommendations for nutrition assessment and treatment provided by RDs in a Stage 3 pediatric weight management (PWM) program. Click here to read more. 

Obesity Canada 

Obesity Canada is the country's leading obesity charity association for:

• Health professionals
• Researchers, trainees and students
• Policy makers
• Canadian living with obesity 

The mission of Obesity Canada is "to improve the lives of Canadians affected by obesity through the advancement of anti-discrimination, prevention and treatment efforts." Their vision is "to be Canada's first authoritatvie voice on evidence-based approaches for obesity prevention, treatment and policy." 

"5As of Pediatric Obesity Management"

"Experts at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Centre for Healthy Active Living Adapted the 5As of Obesity Management for adults into a family-centred approach to managing pediatric obesity in primary care." Click here to read more. 

Childhood Obesity Foundation

The Childhood Obesity Foundation "was founded in 2004 by a pediatrician and a lawyer in British Columbia who wanted to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity in Canada. They gathered together Canadian experts in the field of childhood healthy weights, including physicians, researchers, and together they formed the Childhood Obesity Foundation (COF)." Their mission is "to lead a societal shift toward healthy eating and active lifestyles to promote childhood healthy weights and the resulting physical and emotional benefits." 

"Childhood Healthy Weight Intervention Initiative: Shifting the Destination by Shifting the Trajectory" 

"The Childhood Healthy Weights Intervention Initiative ("the Initiative") offered family-based programming to help families with overweight or obese children shift their own lifestyle trajectories so that more children and teens attain and remain at a healthy weight. It was led by the Childhood Obesity Foundation in partnership with the Province of British Columbia (BC). The Initiative provided free access to three interventions that help BC families increase healthy eating and physical activity behaviorus to promote healthy weights." Click here to read more. 

NCD Alliance

The NCD Alliance aims "to unite and strengthen civil society to stimulate collaborative advocacy, action and accountability for NCD prevention and control. Our unique civil society network unites 2,000 organisations in more than 170 countries." 

"NCD Alliance comments to the WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity interim report, June 2015"

"In order to curbn the rapidly escalating non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic, it is imperative to address childhood obesity without delay. Therefore, the NCD Alliance welcomes the work of the WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity and the possibility to comment on the Commission's interim report." Click here to read more.