Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity continues to increase in adolescents. Community level management is necessary as specialist services are limited.
Objective: This article outlines a management plan for the overweight adolescent in general practice, using a chronic care approach and follows the National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.
Discussion: Overweight and obesity will not resolve spontaneously at puberty, and active intervention is required both to improve current health and wellbeing and to reduce the risks of premature morbidity and mortality in adult life. Modest, cumulative changes to lifestyle together with modest weight loss goals to reduce the risk of weight rebound are important. Any intervention has to take account of the rapid cognitive and behavioural changes of adolescence.