> Resources and Publications > PHC RIS infonet > August 2007 > Lost opportunity: Family doctors are undersourced

Lost opportunity - Family doctors are under-used source of help for overweight children

GPs are not providing advice to overweight children who attend their surgeries, and missing a vital opportunity to redress the obesity epidemic, according to new research led by Dr Michelle Cretikos from the NSW Centre for Overweight and Obesity. The research showed while GPs provide lifestyle advice to some overweight children, many more could benefit from their help.

The study revealed that for every 200 GP visits in children aged 2-17 years, around 60 of the children will be overweight, while only one of those children will be managed by their GP for their weight problem.

Dr Cretikos said, “GPs are keenly aware that childhood overweight has potentially serious medical consequences and are strongly committed to working with parents, adolescents and children to prevent and manage weight problems.”

But this study shows family doctors could be doing much more to assess and manage weight problems in children, about 25% of whom are overweight or obese, she said. “We believe that GPs have much to offer in the way of simple, practical and reliable advice for children and their parents.”

Dr Cretikos' review of GP management of weight problems in children also found:

• Parents rarely raise concerns about their child's weight with their GP
• Most GPs do not weigh children regularly, partly because of concern that parents and children may become upset
• GPs provide appropriate lifestyle advice and counselling on physical activity and healthy eating practices for the overweight children they do manage.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's Australian General Practice Statistics and Classification Centre at the University of Sydney.

This was presented at the recent GP & PHC Research Conference. Michelle's presentation can be found on the PHC RIS website <www.phcris.org.au/conference/browse.php>.

For more information contact:
Dr Michelle Cretikos
NSW Centre for Overweight and Obesity
E: michellec@health.usyd.edu.au