title: A proposed protocol for the development of a register of trials of weight management of childhood overweight and obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, there is no international co-ordinated approach to research into childhood obesity. This is despite much research activity in this area and the universality of the condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  This proposal involves the development of an international register of randomized controlled trials of weight management in overweight and obese children. The primary purpose of the register will be to generate and perform important, focussed prospective meta-analysis of data from trials using the conventional weight management strategies. Prospective meta-analysis is an emerging methodology and has some methodological advantages over retrospective meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The fundamental initial tasks will be to create scientific interest in the proposal, to identify and co-ordinate Management and Advisory Committees with international membership, to determine and define inclusion and exclusion criteria for trial registration, to define the questions that need to be addressed by prospective meta-analysis and finally to engage investigators to register.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Adolescent Medicine & Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. kss@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Steinbeck
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Baur
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghersi
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012042:Registries