This report summarizes estimates of health impact and cost-effectiveness of obsity in children and adolescents, screening and management that were created to assess the relative value of most of the clinical preventive services recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the general population. This ranking of clinical prevention priorities is guided by the National Commission on Prevention Priorities (NCPP).

USPSTF Recommendation: In 2010, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its 2005 recommendation of screening for and management of obesity in children and adolescents. The Task Force found adequate evidence that moderate-to-highly intensive, multi-component behavioral interventions for obese children and adolescents can lead to improvements in weight status with no greater than small risk for harms (a “B” recommendation). The update contrasts with the prior recommendation that found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against screening and interventions for overweight in children and adolescents (an “I” recommendation). The estimates in this report may not reflect current USPSTF recommendations. Readers are advised to check for updated recommendations at https://uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.