Scientific article
Review
English

Is there a role for primary care physicians' screening of excessive weight and eating concerns in adolescence?

Published inThe Journal of pediatrics, vol. 157, no. 1, p. 32-35
Publication date2010
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent to which adolescents with excessive weight concerns and eating concerns are in contact with primary care physicians and could thus be identified in primary care. STUDY DESIGN: A representative sample of 7548 (16 to 20 years old) students completed a self-administered questionnaire on health-related topics (2002 Swiss Multicenter Adolescent Health Survey). Adolescents with excessive weight and eating concerns were compared with control subjects for frequency of somatic complaints and primary care visits in the past year. Analyses were stratified by sex. Logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. RESULTS: Excessive weight and eating concerns were frequent in adolescents, particularly in girls (girls, 13.9%; boys, 1.6%). Adolescents with these concerns reported more frequent somatic complaints compared with their peers. Nearly 80% of them were in contact with a primary care physician at least once a year. CONCLUSION: Primary care physicians are in contact with adolescents who have excessive weight and eating concerns. Identification of these concerns should be encouraged for appropriate management.

Keywords
  • Adolescent
  • *Attitude to Health
  • Body Mass Index
  • *Body Weight
  • *Eating
  • Family Practice/*standards
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • *Physician's Role
  • Primary Health Care/*standards
  • Questionnaires
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Concept
  • Sex Factors
  • Students/*psychology
  • Switzerland
  • Young Adult
Citation (ISO format)
CHAMAY-WEBER, Catherine, HALLER, Dagmar M., NARRING, Françoise. Is there a role for primary care physicians” screening of excessive weight and eating concerns in adolescence? In: The Journal of pediatrics, 2010, vol. 157, n° 1, p. 32–35. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.01.030
Main files (1)
Article
accessLevelRestricted
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0022-3476
627views
2downloads

Technical informations

Creation23/05/2012 08:44:39
First validation23/05/2012 08:44:39
Update time14/03/2023 17:32:16
Status update14/03/2023 17:32:16
Last indexation30/01/2025 16:26:10
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack