Clinical guidelines for weight management in New Zealand children and young people

Abstract

The Ministry of Health commissioned the development of the Guidelines in 2008 for the management of overweight and obese adults, children and young people, with a focus on Māori, Pacific and South Asian populations. Obesity is considered a major risk factor for many chronic, debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Over the past two decades the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled in New Zealand adults. Obesity is more common in Māori, Pacific and South Asian populations compared with other New Zealanders. The aim of this guideline is to provide evidence-based guidance for the management of overweight and obesity in children and young people. It is expected that this guideline will be used principally in primary care and community-based initiatives. Primary prevention of overweight and obesity, although vitally important, is outside the contracted scope of this guideline. This guideline stands alongside a clinical guideline developed for weight management in adults. The Guidelines were developed by the Clinical Trials Research Unit (University of Auckland) with technical advice and guidance from the Guidelines Technical Advisory Group. Development also included key informant interviews, road testing with frontline health providers and primary health organisations, consultation with Māori and Pacific caucuses and literature reviews on best practice information for Māori and Pacific.