Weight Assessment and Counseling for Nutrition and Physical Activity for Children/Adolescents (WCC)

Assesses children and adolescents 3-17 years of age who had an outpatient visit with a primary care practitioner or OB/GYN during the measurement year and had evidence of:

• Body mass index (BMI) percentile documentation.
• Counseling for nutrition.
• Counseling for physical activity.

Because BMI norms for youth vary with age and gender, this measure evaluates whether BMI percentile is assessed, rather than an absolute BMI value.

Why It Matters

Over the last three decades, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents.¹ It is the primary health concern among parents in the United States, topping drug abuse and smoking.² Childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term effects on health and well-being.

Health lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases.¹ Obesity can become a lifelong health issue; therefore, it is important to monitor weight problems in children and adolescents and provide guidance for maintaining a health weight and lifestyle.²

Historical Results – National Averages