The BMI curves children often absent from their health record
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The health records of children are almost never BMI curves, according to the first report of the national day of screening for childhood obesity.
The French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics (AFPA), which boasts more than 1,200 members, organized the first day of screening of childhood obesity in about 70 cities with more than 600 liberal pediatricians.
Dr. Brigitte Virey, former president of the AFA, which is at the origin of this day and who organized Reuters Health has provided an initial assessment of 1,500 to 2,000 children from 15 months up to 20 years, with the majority aged 6 to 14 years.
It appears from this day that "the weight and size are hardly ever recorded in the books of health, body mass index (BMI) is hardly ever calculated and BMI curves hardly ever drawn," said the pediatrician practicing in Dijon.
And if these data are given, which is planned for a decade, they have mostly been noted by the medical school, she adds, noting that the recommendations of good practice should soon educate GPs on the subject.
These are being developed by the National Agency for Accreditation and Evaluation in Health (Anaes), which has been integrated within the National Authority for Health (HAS) - and not only concern Screening for childhood obesity, but all screens in children, said Dr. Virey.
On screening of childhood obesity, the recommendations will specify measure and weigh children aged 28 days to 6 years 2 times a year, and beyond the age of 6, at least one time per year.
"It is a pity not to have these BMI curves could be defined as the time it slips" precociously and take appropriate action. "After that, it's harder."
What also emerged from the screening day is that "very often, parents do not imagine that their child was overweight. Rather, they suggest that it is coated and doctors often tell them that it will go with the growth. "
On this day, 20% of children who viewed obese with obesity-called Level 2 - 40% were overweight-obesity called level 1 - 10% had gained too much weight in a short time without being as overweight and 30% were of normal weight.
These figures do not reflect the situation in the general population. There are bound to selection bias, parents who brought their children in consultation being especially those with concerns or who were involved in the subject, says Brigitte Virey.
For half of the children who viewed, who is an excessive weight gain or have either overweight, "it is possible to do something." The objective is to stabilize the weight by changing eating habits and physical activity. This happens, for example by the errors such as the use of both bread and cereal in the morning or both cheese and yogurt fix, she added.
For obese children, it is more difficult, with a specialized, multidisciplinary care including a psychologist and a dietician.
Author: Mohammad
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