Estudio colaborativo españolDescripción de la práctica clínica habitual en obesidad infantil

  1. Alfonso Lechuga Sancho
  2. Enrique Palomo-Atance
  3. María José Rivero Martin
  4. Mercedes Gil Campos
  5. María Rosaura Leis Trabazo
  6. Maria Pilar Bahíllo Curieses
  7. María Gloria Bueno Lozano
Journal:
Anales de Pediatría: Publicación Oficial de la Asociación Española de Pediatría ( AEP )

ISSN: 1695-4033 1696-4608

Year of publication: 2018

Volume: 88

Issue: 6

Pages: 340-349

Type: Article

More publications in: Anales de Pediatría: Publicación Oficial de la Asociación Española de Pediatría ( AEP )

Abstract

Introduction Childhood obesity is a high prevalence health problem. Although there are clinical guidelines for its management, there is variability in its clinical approach. The aim of this study is to describe the usual clinical practice in Paediatric Endocrinology Units in Spain and to evaluate if it resembles the recommended guidelines. Material and methods An observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out by means of a questionnaire sent to paediatric endocrinologists of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Endocrinology. The questions were formulated based on the recommendations of “Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity” issued by the Spanish Ministry of Health. Results A total of 125 completed questionnaires were obtained from all Autonomous Communities. Variability was observed both in the number of patients attended and in the frequency of the visits. The majority (70%) of the paediatricians who responded did not have a dietitian, psychologist or psychiatrist, in their centre to share the treatment for obese children. As regards treatment, dietary advice is the most used, and 69% have never prescribed weight-loss drugs. Of those who have prescribed them, 52.6% did not use informed consent as a prior step to them being used. Conclusions There are few centres that comply with the recommendations of the clinical practice guidelines on prevention and treatment of childhood obesity as an established quality plan. Clinical practice differs widely among the paediatric endocrinologists surveyed. There are no uniform protocols of action, and in general there is limited availability of resources for the multidisciplinary treatment required by this condition.