Consensus was reached on final recommendations. Benefits, Harms, and Costs Weight alone is not a good measure of obesity. Skin-fold thickness measurements correlate with total body fatness in the range of 0.7 to 0.8 but are not as accurate in obese children. No evidence exists that traditional adult interventions of reduced calories and increased exercise lead to long-term weight loss. Exercise can help to maintain an ideal body weight but evidence is mixed about the role of exercise in weight loss in obese children.
Evidence is mixed on the role of parents in weight loss programs for their children.
In 1 study children from intact, predominantly white, middle-class families received diet and exercise information and behavioural modification for the child alone, for the child and parent, or only information without behavioural modification. After 10 years the children in the group who received behavioural modification for children and parents were less obese than those in the other groups. Side effects of dietary restrictions include growth and developmental delays that can become permanent. Citations in support of individual recommendations are identified in the guideline text. Measurements should continue for infants to screen for failure to thrive.