Handbook of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity

Within the past two generations alone, child and adolescent obesity has more than doubled for some age groups and tripled for others. Consequently, the extraordinary number of school-age children now being diagnosed with what were once considered adult-onset disorders – hypertension, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and related cardio-pulmonary conditions – has catapulted pediatric obesity to the forefront of national attention. Yet even as recognition grows, reliable, scientifically tested information and methods often get lost in the media crush of quick fixes and hyped-up news stories.


Now, in one comprehensive, easy-to-access volume, the Handbook of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity reveals the scope of the problem in terms of its psychological burden, its health consequences, and the available prevention and treatment options with the most current empirical and clinical knowledge available. This volume provides readers not only raw data, but also a framework for translating findings into effective, efficient practice – assessment, treatment, and prevention. This volume:


Emphasizes developmental considerations – the specific information most relevant to toddlers, school-age children, and adolescents.

Examines sociocultural and economic risk factors and their attendant treatment issues.

Addresses the particular challenges of treating overweight children with psychiatric comorbidities.

Discusses weight management intervention strategies in home, school, and community settings.

Outlines model intervention programs for overweight/obese children and youth.

Features special chapters on emerging topics of interest, including behavioral genetics, binge eating, technology-based approaches to weight control, and the concept of the obesigenic environment.



The Handbook of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity is a vital reference for child psychologists and psychiatrists as well as school and counseling psychologists, social workers, educators, and public health and medical professionals.