Can we recognise obesity clinically?
Sally M Smith 1*, Paul J Gately 2 and Mary CJ Rudolf 3
1 York NHS foundation trust, United Kingdom
2 Leeds Metropoltian University, United Kingdom
3 Belmont House, United Kingdom
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: sallymsmith{at}doctors.org.uk.
Accepted 20 April 2008
 | Abstract |
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The aim of this study was to ascertain whether Health Care Professionals (HCPs) are able to accurately identify overweight and obese children by observation alone. Eighty HCPs were asked to view photographs of thirty-three children, and assign each into one of six categories, ranging from "very underweight" to "obese". The HCPs' categorisation was compared with the children's degree of adiposity based on conventional clinical criteria for BMI.
The HCPs were found to be generally poor at assessing the weight status of the children, and in particular tended to underestimate overweight and obesity in children. This study suggests that it is not appropriate to rely on informal assessment to identify obesity, and highlights the need for HCPs to be aware of their lack of accuracy in this regard.
