Big Way Of Life

GPs may be contributing to the nation's obesity problem by failing to discuss children's weight problems with their parents, new research suggests.

Scientists at the University of Bristol's School of Social and Community Medicine looked at 285 families with children between the ages of five and 16 years, all of whom had recorded a body mass index (BMI) in the 'obese' range in the previous two years.

Parents were sent a letter inviting them to consult their GP about their child's weight and the study showed that only 47 per cent of parents did so.

Just 19 patients (6.7 per cent) were subsequently referred to a Care of Childhood Obesity (COCO) clinic and a further six patients (2.1 per cent) were referred to another type of weight management programme.

Dr Jonathan Banks, whose findings are published in the British Journal of General Practice, said: 'The study strategy to contact families of children with BMIs in the obese range was not successful.

'While it is recognised that there is a need for high-quality research into methods of weight management for children, the experience of this study shows that there is an accompanying need to explore how to engage parents, children and primary healthcare professionals in recognising obesity and the need to actively manage the condition.'