Learning Objective #1: Discuss nutrition and environmental changes that can reverse the nutrition transition and prevent childhood obesity

Learning Objective #2: Demonstrate use of the current standards used for defining overweight and obesity in children

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Background: The global prevalence of obesity continues to rise as more countries in the world experience shifts to urban and industrialized lifestyles. Current estimates are that 10% of the world's children aged 5-17 years old are overweight and 2-3%, or 30-45 million, are obese. Many countries in the Americas, Europe, and the Near/Middle East are affected with some populations, including ethnic and socioeconomic groups, having disproportionately high rates. The aim of this paper is to: 1) discuss the nutrition transition occurring in developing countries and 2) identify the evidence-based prevention and screening guidelines for childhood obesity.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature with the keyword of global childhood obesity was performed with 1999-2004 as the years of publication and English as the language. As well, the websites of the World Health Organization, (WHO), the North American Society for the Study of Obesity, and the International Association for the Study of Obesity were reviewed for evidence on prevention and screening of childhood obesity.

Results: Obesity is not restricted to industrialized societies; the rates are rising rapidly throughout the world as developing nations experience economic and social development. Almost 40% of obese children are at high risk of becoming obese adults, and when compared to non-overweight children, obese children have a significantly increased risk of having elevated fasting insulin levels, elevated triglycerides, and elevated systolic blood pressure. The prevention of obesity in children involves population, family, and individual changes that result in lower energy consumption and increased physical activity. Screening for overweight and obesity in children from birth to age 18 is recommended by global public health and medical authorities. The World Health Organization has recently issued guidelines that children should be screened using weight for height measurements, rather than weight for age and height for age.