The purpose of this guideline is to define the appropriate prevention, diagnosis and management of obesity in children. The objective is to guide the appropriate prevention, investigation, treatment and referral of patients presenting to provider organisations in Qatar. It is intended that the guideline will be used primarily by healthcare professionals in primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care.

This guideline covers the following aspects of care:

• The awareness, prevention, early detection of childhood obesity.

• Screening for obesity among children (<18 years).

• Diagnosis, assessment, and management of obesity in children (aged < 18 years), including:

• • Risk stratification.

  • Investigations.

  • Addressing barriers to weight loss and psychological factors.

  • The assessment of associated comorbidities.

  • Lifestyle advice and behavioural interventions.

• Referral indications to specialised obesity services.

• Pharmacological treatment options.

• Endoscopic bariatric therapies.

• Surgical treatment options.

Aspects of care not covered in this guideline are:

• Patients age ≥ 18 years.

• Medical treatment of related medical conditions.