Introduction: Pediatric Obesity and the Role of Children's Hospitals

The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that 16.9% of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years are obese.1 These most recent data follow a trend in increased prevalence of overweight or obesity that has spanned the last 30 years.1 The public's perception of the gravity of childhood obesity as a health threat mirrors national prevalence data. In a recent poll, 81% of respondents identified childhood obesity as a serious problem, and approximately two-thirds agreed that it is getting worse.2 An array of private and public-sector organizations are responding to what is often referred to as the “obesity epidemic,” chief among them is the health industry. Children's hospitals find themselves on the frontlines of obesity diagnosis, treatment, and prevention; 68% of them have indicated that they provide services through an obesity clinic or weight-management program.3 The 2007 Survey of US Pediatric … Address correspondence to Karen Seaver Hill, BS, Child Advocacy Program, National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions, 401 Wythe St, Alexandria, VA 22314. E-mail: khill{at}nachri.org