Important elements of history for childhood obesity
| Questions | |
|---|---|
| A. Plot the “obesity trajectory” | 1. Birth weight |
| 2. Early feeding history | |
| 3. Whether onset of obesity was sudden or gradual and age of onset of obesity | |
| 4. Whether progression of obesity was gradual or rapid | |
| 5. Whether there have been any periods of very rapid weight gain, particularly recently | |
| 6. Whether there have been any periods of weight loss (and why and how) | |
| 7. Who else in the family is obese or has trouble controlling their weight | |
| B. Assess family risk profile | To place the child in the appropriate risk category it is useful to ask about family history (in first and second generations) of components of the insulin resistance syndrome, e.g.: |
| 1. Morbid obesity | |
| 2. Type 2 diabetes | |
| 3. Hypertension | |
| 4. Dyslipidaemia | |
| 5. Polycystic ovarian syndrome | |
| 6. Early cardiovascular disease (defined as relatives who developed cardiovascular disease in the fifties or earlier) | |
| C. Ethnicity | Note the ethnic background of the child or adolescent, as those from a Black or South Asian background have a higher risk of the insulin resistance syndrome and diabetes |