High prevalence of overweight children and adolescents in the Practice Partner Research Network

Objectives: To determine the prevalences of overweight children and adolescents seeking care in 49 Practice Partner Research Network (PPRNet) primary care practices and to compare these rates with national population-based surveys. Design and Setting: The prevalence of overweight subjects (>95th percentile for age and sex) and subjects at risk for being overweight (>85th percentile for age and sex) was calculated for 30 445 children aged 6 through 19 years visiting PPRNet primary care practices from 1995 through 1997. Prevalences were compared with prevalences from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Percentile cutoffs from the National Health Evaluation Survey were used as the baseline standard for the comparisons. Main Outcome Measure: Obesity prevalences. Results: Thirty-six percent of boys aged 6 through 11 years and 35% of boys aged 12 through 17 years were either at risk for bring overweight or overweight: 20% and 19% were overweight, respectively. Thirty-five per cent of girls aged 6 through 11 years and 34% of girls aged 12 through 17 years were either at risk for being overweight or were overweight; 20% and 18% were overweight, respectively. Prevalences of overweight subjects and subjects at risk for being overweight were much greater in patients of PPRNet primary care practices compared with the most recent national survey, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys III. Conclusions: One in 3 children and adolescents visiting PPRNet primary care practices is at risk for being overweight or is overweight. The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents visiting primary care practices is much greater than that observed in national population-based surveys.