Addressing Inequities in Dietary Modification for Pediatric Patients with Overweight and Obesity: A Call to Clinicians and Medical Trainees

Obesity, a chronic disease with high morbidity, is closely linked to structural and societal barriers in communities across the U.S. and around the world. In the U.S., children of Hispanic ethnicity, children who identify as non-Hispanic Black, and those from lower-income households are at disproportionately higher risk for the development of obesity in childhood, which subsequently affects their longevity and quality of life in adulthood. Here, we review some of the structural and social determinants of health that adversely impact marginalized households and communities and, hence, a family’s ability to address and prevent obesity. These include health literacy, health care system resources and accessibility, social and neighborhood environmental barriers, and early childhood experiences. In response, we focus on how trainees and practicing physicians can address these disparities in clinical and community practice. Through this review and our own experiences, we provide recommendations for ensuring culturally sensitive, accessible, and feasible dietary recommendations for pediatric patients and their families.