[Outpatient treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity].
OBJECTIVE
Obesity in childhood is an increasing problem in both industrial and developing countries. Prevalence rates are up 15% in the U.S.A. and up 10% in Europe. The present paper gives an overview of current research on medical and psychosocial problems associated with childhood obesity. Treatment options are introduced and 24 studies are reviewed in detail with regard to treatment characteristics and outcome.


METHODS
Medline and PsycINFO searches for outpatient treatment studies on childhood obesity between 1966 and 2003 were carried out.


RESULTS
The limited comparability of the studies necessarily restricts their generalizability.


CONCLUSIONS
Implications for the treatment of childhood obesity and further research are discussed.
Munsch
Simone
S
Institut für Psychologie, Universität Basel, Abteilung Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie.
Biedert
Esther
E
Roth
Binia
B
Speck
Vanessa
V
Roth
Sandra
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States