Physician weight counseling for adolescents.
Adolescent obesity prevalence is increasing, with minimal study of physician weight counseling with youth. This study examines adolescents' (n=110) perceptions of physicians' weight counseling. Overweight adolescents (> or =85th percentile for body mass index, BMI) report receiving counseling more than nonoverweight adolescents. Physicians more often have counseled obese (> or =95th BMI percentile) than overweight but not obese adolescents (85th-94th BMI percentile). Prior counseling and adolescents' ethnicity were related to greater perceived physician concern and adolescent receptivity to future counseling. Overweight adolescents report attempting weight loss strategies at rates similar to recommendations, but recommendations for specific weight control behaviors do not increase the likelihood of adolescent attempts. Clin Pediatr. 2002;41:575-585
Saelens
Brian E
BE
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine & Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, OH 45229, USA.
Jelalian
Elissa
E
Kukene
Danielle M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003376:Counseling / Q000639:trends; D005194:Family Practice / Q000639:trends; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States