Overweight and obese children are frequently not receiving recommended screening tests for obesity-related conditions, according to a study published in the April 11 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. A lack of awareness of testing-related guidelines may contribute to the low rates of utilization of these screening tests. In response to the rise in obesity among U.S. children and adolescents from 1980 to 2010, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended targeted laboratory screening for metabolic disorders, including lipid panel testing, among children and adolescents with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 85th percentile based on age or presence of certain risk factors, beginning at age 10 years. The researchers utilized data from a population of children and teens enrolled in Maryland Medicaid or the Maryland Children’s Health Program to determine whether or not screenings, per the recommendations, were being performed in routine clinical practice. BMI percentiles were calculated for a random sample of 1,600 children (aged 2 years to 19 years) per year (2005 to 2010) who were seen for a well-child visit. Laboratory tests undertaken and diagnosed obesity-related conditions were identified through medical encounter records. The researchers found that 16.5 percent of the included children […]