Childhood obesity.
In March 2004 a group of 65 physicians and other health professionals representing nine countries on four continents convened in Israel to discuss the widespread public health crisis in childhood obesity. Their aim was to explore the available evidence and develop a consensus on the way forward. The process was rigorous, although time and resources did not permit the development of formal evidence-based guidelines. In the months before meeting, participants were allocated to seven groups covering prevalence, causes, risks, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and psychology. Through electronic communication each group selected the key issues for their area, searched the literature, and developed a draft document. Over the 3-d meeting, these papers were debated and finalized by each group before presenting to the full group for further discussion and agreement. In developing a consensus statement, this international group has presented the evidence, developed recommendations, and provided a platform aimed toward future corrective action and ongoing debate in the international community.
Speiser
Phyllis W
PW
Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Schneider Children's Hospital, 269-01 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park, New York 11040, USA. pspeiser@lij.edu
Rudolf
Mary C J
MC
Anhalt
Henry
H
Camacho-Hubner
Cecilia
C
Chiarelli
Francesco
F
Eliakim
Alon
A
Freemark
Michael
M
Gruters
Annette
A
Hershkovitz
Eli
E
Iughetti
Lorenzo
L
Krude
Heiko
H
Latzer
Yael
Y
Lustig
Robert H
RH
Pescovitz
Ora Hirsch
OH
Pinhas-Hamiel
Orit
O
Rogol
Alan D
AD
Shalitin
Shlomit
S
Sultan
Charles
C
Stein
Daniel
D
Vardi
Pnina
P
Werther
George A
GA
Zadik
Zvi
Z
Zuckerman-Levin
Nehama
N
Hochberg
Zeev
Z
D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy