title: Initial Approach to Childhood Obesity in Spain. A Multisociety Expert Panel Assessment.
abstract: In recent years, the incidence of childhood obesity in Europe, and Spain in particular, has increased dramatically. Bariatric surgery could play a major role in treating of adolescents with severe obesity. However, no specific guidelines for bariatric surgery currently exist in Spain.
  
  
  
  The Board of the Spanish Society for Obesity Surgery and Metabolic Diseases (SECO) proposed a study of childhood obesity by using the Delphi method. This prospective study involved 60 experts from nine national societies. Each society leader recruited experts from their society in obesity-related fields. Two online questionnaires were taken, and consensus on guidelines for various obesity treatments was reached according to the percentage of answers in favor or against inclusion of a given guideline. Based on these results, preoperative, surgical management and follow-up of childhood obesity management among others were analyzed.
  
  
  
  The survey results indicated significant concern among all societies regarding obesity. There was strong consensus with regard to adolescents and obesity, medical treatment, dietary recommendations, environmental and social factors, and goals for adolescents with obesity. Consensus on the use of intragastric balloons and other techniques was not reached. However, biliopancreatic diversion was rejected as a primary treatment, and mandatory psychological/psychiatric assessment was agreed upon. Inclusion criteria accepted were similar to those for adults with the exception of surgery in those with a body mass index <40.
  
  
  
  Spanish obesity-related societies are aware of the societal problem of childhood obesity. Multisociety development of national approaches may arise from consensus-building studies among specialists.
authors.affiliation: SECO Sociedad Española de Cirugía de la Obesidad, Madrid, Spain. vilallongapuy@hotmail.com.|General Surgery Department, Endocrine, Metabolic and Bariatric Unit, Robotic Surgery, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitary Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 119-129 08035, Barcelona,, Spain. vilallongapuy@hotmail.com.|Spanish Society for Obesity Surgery. General Secretary, Madrid, Spain. vilallongapuy@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vilallonga
authors.affiliation: AEP Asociación Española de Pediatría, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moreno Villares
authors.affiliation: AEP Asociación Española de Pediatría, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yeste Fernández
authors.affiliation: AEC Asociación Española de Cirugía-Sección Obesidad, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sánchez Santos
authors.affiliation: SEEDO Sociedad Española para el Estudio de la Obesidad, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Casanueva Freijo
authors.affiliation: Consejo General de Colegios Oficiales de Psicólogos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santolaya Ochando
authors.affiliation: SECP Sociedad Española de Cirugía Pediátrica, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leal Hernando
authors.affiliation: SEEN Sociedad Española de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lecube Torelló
authors.affiliation: SEEP Sociedad Española de Endocrinología Pediátrica, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis Antonio
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Castaño González
authors.affiliation: SEEN Sociedad Española de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feliu
authors.affiliation: SEPD Sociedad Española de Patología Digestiva, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Gontrand
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lopez-Nava
authors.affiliation: SECO Sociedad Española de Cirugía de la Obesidad, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Frutos
authors.affiliation: SECO Sociedad Española de Cirugía de la Obesidad, Madrid, Spain. vilallongapuy@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de la Cruz Vigo
authors.affiliation: SECO Sociedad Española de Cirugía de la Obesidad, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Torres Garcia
authors.affiliation: SECO Sociedad Española de Cirugía de la Obesidad, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ruiz de Adana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods; D015904:Biliopancreatic Diversion; D015992:Body Mass Index; D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D015905:Gastric Balloon; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain
keywords: Assessment; Bariatric surgery; Childhood obesity; Consensus; Management; Spain