Weight Assessment and Counseling for Nutrition and Physical Activity for Children/Adolescents (WCC)

The percentage of persons 3–17 years of age who had an outpatient visit with a PCP or OB/GYN and who had evidence of the following during the measurement period: 

  • BMI Percentile*.  
  • Counseling for Nutrition.  
  • Counseling for Physical Activity.  

* Because BMI norms for youth vary with age and gender, this measure evaluates whether BMI percentile is assessed rather than an absolute BMI value. 

Why It Matters

Over the last three decades, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents 1. Childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term effects on health and well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults 2.

Health lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases 3. Obesity in childhood increases the chances of developing asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases 2. Obesity can become a lifelong health issue; therefore, it is important to monitor weight problems in children and adolescents and provide guidance for maintaining a health weight and lifestyle 2.

BMI is a useful screening tool for assessing and tracking the degree of obesity among adolescents. Because BMI norms for youth vary with age and gender, BMI percentiles rather than absolute BMI must be determined. Providers can estimate a child’s BMI percentile for age and gender by plotting the calculated value of BMI on growth curves published and distributed by the CDC 3.

Only 21% of children and adolescents between the ages of 6-17 engage in recommended levels of physical activity 4. In 2022, daily participation in high school physical education classes is reported as 26% 4. From 2000-2018, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased for children. Among young people, the prevalence of obesity increased from 10.3% to 13.4% for those aged 2–5 years; from 15.1% to 20.3% for those aged 6–11 years; and from 14.8% to 21.2% for those aged 12–19 years 5. In 2019, the estimated total cost of obesity-related medical costs in the U.S. was about $173B 6. Promoting regular physical activity and healthy eating, as well as creating an environment that supports these behaviors, is essential to addressing the problem 5.

Historical Results – National Averages

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Reference

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2024. “Managing Obesity in Schools.” https://www.cdc.gov/school-health-conditions/chronic/obesity.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/index.htm
  2. CDC. 2024. “Preventing Childhood Obesity.” https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/family-action/index.html
  3. CDC. 2024. “Child and Teen BMI Categories.” https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/child-teen-calculator/bmi-categories.html
  4. Physical Activity Alliance. 2022. The 2022 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth Summary. https://www.activehealthykids.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/US-report-card-short-form-2022.pdf
  5. Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Afful J. 2020. “Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years: United States, 1963–1965 through 2017–2018.” NCHS Health E-Stats.
  6. CDC. 2022. “Consequences of Obesity.” https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/basics/consequences.html#:~:text=7%2C8-,Economic%20Impact,to%20be%20nearly%20$173%20billion.&text=Annual%20nationwide%20productivity%20costs%20of,132%20per%20individual%20with%20obesity

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