Rates of childhood and adolescent obesity are increasing worldwide, and young people with overweight or obesity are more likely to have obesity in adulthood. Childhood obesity has a more severe life-long impact than adult-onset obesity, and children with severe obesity are at higher risk for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease than those without. Early assessment, diagnosis and intervention is important to improve long-term outcomes for young people with obesity.

Family centered lifestyle interventions comprising dietary changes, physical activity and behavioural counselling form the basis of all childhood obesity treatment plans. However, lifestyle interventions alone are often not effective over the long term, and might need to be supported by pharmacotherapy and/or bariatric surgery to achieve sustained weight loss.