Outcome measurements in paediatric obesity prevention trials.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity in children impacts on their health in both the short and long term. Having an accurate and precise body composition assessment, it may be possible to control growth process and predict adult status in order to reduce the risk factors for various diseases.METHOD: To review methods for body composition assessment that may provide new insights into the clinical practicality of paediatric obesity prevention/treatment. To present which specific outcome measurements in paediatric obesity prevention trials could be used to detect subjects at risk as early as possible.RESULTS: We discussed body composition measurements that could be used in daily clinical practice and as outcome measurements in prevention trials.CONCLUSION: These measurement procedures could be associated with methods for preventing obesity onset or retarding the weight gain associated with ageing.