Addressing Childhood Obesity: Opportunities for Prevention

Childhood obesity is a complex medical issue, representing the interplay of physical and environmental factors. The neuroendocrine control of weight includes multiple situations where genetic variation can influence a person's weight status. Unfortunately, the unhealthy evolution of food and activity environments has placed children at a higher risk for obesity and associated weight problems than they ever have been before. Although significantly more research is needed to optimize these strategies, interventions at the level of the pediatrician, school, government, and family have shown success in the prevention of childhood obesity.