The mission of the American Academy of Pediatrics is to attain optimal physical, mental and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults. To accomplish this mission, the Academy shall support the professional needs of its members.

• Childhood Obesity is compromising the health and well being of our children
• The American Academy of Pediatrics cares!
• And we are doing something about it!

Obesity is currently the single most prevalent chronic disease in childhood.

(image: photo of child eating)

Obesity increases the burden of disease for children and adolescents

• Cardiovascular disease
• Type 2 diabetes, DKA
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Respiratory disease
• Slipped capital femoral epiphysis, Blount's disease
• Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
• Pseudotumor cerebri
• Depression, low self-esteem, decreased quality of life

The lifetime risk of diabetes for babies born in 2000:

• 1 in 3 for males
• 2 in 5 for females

(image: photo of baby)

Minority populations are hardest hit:

In 1998, 21.5 percent of African American children, 21.8 percent of Hispanic children and 12.3 percent of Caucasian children had a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than the 95 percentile for age and gender.*

*Strauss RS, Pollack HA. Epidemic increase in childhood overweight, 1986-1998. JAMA 2001;286:2845-8.

Obese children constitute a significant portion of every primary care and specialty practice in Pediatrics

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(image: Chart titled "AAP Strategic Priorities 2006-2007")

• Obesity prevention is part of every routine child health supervision visit
• Increase clinical skill in identifying and treating overweight and obese children, including comorbidities
• Collaborate with medical schools, residency programs and fellowship programs to integrate obesity prevention and treatment into the curricula

• Pediatricians will actively promote policies, programs, and interventions that support
• Pediatricians will be recognized by insurers, employers, the medical community, and legislators as critical providers of obesity prevention and treatment

In order to engage in obesity prevention, intervention and treatment of obesity, Pediatricians need:

• Education
• National, state and local advocacy support
• Community networking
• Practice Management Support
• Reimbursement
• Research into causes and effective prevention and treatment strategies.

• AAP policy statements, including:
  • Prevention of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity
  • Active Healthy Living: Prevention of Childhood Obesity Through Increased Physical Activity
• CME programming

• Pediatrics for the 21^st Century Program: "Fact, Fiction, or Future of Pediatric Obesity"
• Sample slide sets for public use
• AAP News articles
• Obesity curriculum for pediatric residents

• AAP overweight and obesity web site (average 55K hits; 4K unique visitors PER MONTH)
• Books
• Brochures

(image: photos of books or brochures titled "Pediatric Obesity" and "Childhood Obesity"

• CDC, MCHB, AMA: consensus guidelines
• CDC: VERB! Campaign
• AHRQ: DVD for parents/children
• OSG: Shaping America's Youth
• NIH: We Can!
• American Heart Assoc: dietary guideline/obesity initiative
• Assoc of Children's Museums:"Go Kids!" initiative
• Shape Up America
• Action for Healthy Kids

• Grant Opportunities
• Community-based approaches
• Advocacy summit and workshops
• Local wellness policy promotion
• Legislation and public policy tracking/issue briefs

• Meetings with national carriers
• Recommendations for obesity coverage
• Obesity Coding Fact Sheet
• Template letter and negotiation resources

• Periodic Survey of Fellows
• Pediatric Research in Office Settings Network: healthy lifestyle study

(image: screenshot of www.aap.org/obesity)

(image: American Academy of Pediatrics logo)