Federal Task Force Recommends Intensive Counseling for Childhood Obesity

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is now recommending intensive counseling and behavioral interventions for children struggling with obesity. Published on Tuesday, the task force's new recommendations specifically target children aged six and older with a high body mass index (BMI).

This updated guidance replaces the 2017 recommendation, which merely suggested screening children for obesity. The new approach emphasizes the importance of early and sustained behavioral interventions to help manage and reduce obesity in children.

According to the report, nearly one in five children in the United States. . .