Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: The aim of our study is to evaluate the current practice, resources available and barriers to primary and secondary professionals providing care for children who are overweight or obese.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to primary and secondary care providers including General Practitioners (GP), Practice Nurses (PN), Health visitors, school nurses and community nurses in a selected Primary Care Trust and hospital doctors in Pennine Acute Trust Hospitals.

Results: Ninety-Seven (40%) professionals replied. Height and weight was routinely measured by 96% of Paediatricians verses only 42.5% of Primary Care workers; Body Mass Index was calculated by 65% and 27% respectively.

More than half the professionals (82%) followed-up patients solely within their own setting. Satisfaction scoring (out of 5) relating to ability to provide help and support to obese children were generally low especially with respect to training (1.88), self expertise (2.5), exercise programmes (1.88), family acceptance (2.22) and engagement (2.4). 15% and 3% of respondents referred to Dietitian and Psychology services respectively.

Only 70% of Senior Paediatricians and GPs were aware of NICE guideline. With respect to service availability 14% respondents were not aware of the local services, 32% had a dietitian service, 5% psychology access and only 10% had local exercise programme availability.

Conclusions: In spite of extensive campaigning by the government and the NICE guidelines, this study identified shortfalls and dissatisfaction in training, assessment, management and services available to help children with obesity. Improved training, assessment, service provision and collaborative working are needed between healthcare and non-healthcare services to help tackle Childhood obesity, an increasing epidemic with high morbidity and mortality.