A childhood obesity expert recommends simple interventions to prevent school-age children from becoming overweight adults.

To combat childhood obesity, greater emphasis should be placed on school-based nutrition policies along with weight management and nutrition counseling during the recommended 12 well-child visits with the child's pediatrician, according to Dr. Robert Murray, director of the Center for Nutrition and Wellness at Columbus Children's Hospital.

The 12 well-child visits between birth and age 5 should be used to treat obesity with the same level of seriousness and aggressiveness as that used when promoting child immunizations, said Murray. Physicians typically monitor a child's progress on the body mass index (BMI) curve by reviewing dietary habits and basic nutrition with parents. Keeping children on the BMI curve will prevent the vast majority of adult obesity.

Murray also recommends developing school-based nutrition policies to maintain a reasonable weight for every child into their teen years. The cost of providing a universal breakfast and lunch through the National School Lunch Program is minimal compared to the cost of treating the obesity epidemic, said Murray.

"Obesity is a pediatric disorder," claims Murray. "The obese child at age six has a 50 percent chance of obesity as an adult, while an obese child at age 10 has a 70 to 80 percent chance of becoming an overweight adult. We need to optimize interventions that are effective and influence children early in life to prevent obesity in adults."

Other sources: Columbus Children's Hospital