Office evaluation and management of the obese adolescent with metabolic syndrome

摘要

Obesity remains a serious problem among all segments of the American population. Its prevalence in children increases with age. Approximately 17.6% of adolescents (age 12 to 19 years) are obese; 34.1% of adolescents are either overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity disproportionately affect minority adolescents: 38.1% and 22.9% of black adolescents and 38.9% and 21.1% of Mexican American adolescents are overweight and obese, respectively.