Risk increases with age
As with children, overweight adolescents had a higher risk of being overweight in adulthood. And the association between older age and higher ORs persisted into adolescence. One study found an OR of 17.5 for adult overweight among youngsters who were overweight at 10 to 14 years of age and an OR of 22.3 for adolescents who were overweight at 15 to 17 years.
Boys are at greater risk than girls
The systematic review also revealed sex differences. Two studies showed that overweight or obese boys were not only more likely to be overweight in adulthood than their average-weight peers (OR=15.0 in 1 study; RR=9.8 in the other), but also more likely to be overweight later in life than overweight or obese girls. The girls had an OR of 12.0 for adult overweight in 1 study and an RR of 6.8 in the other.
Recommendations
The American Academy of Family Physicians emphasizes that weight management in childhood is an important goal, but notes a lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of screening and treating overweight in children.5 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends calculating and plotting BMI yearly to identify excessive weight gain.6
The United States Preventive Services Task Force, citing lack of evidence for treatment benefit, finds insufficient evidence for or against screening for overweight in children.7