Future Medical Doctors Are Not Learning About Overweight and Obesity in Children: Curriculum Analysis at Five Australian Medical Schools

TL;DR

This study finds that Australian medical schools are not adequately teaching future doctors about childhood overweight and obesity, despite its growing public health impact.

Contribution

The paper identifies significant gaps in obesity education for children in medical school curricula in Australia.

Findings

Medical schools show substantial gaps in teaching about childhood overweight and obesity.

There is a lack of consistent and structured obesity education in the curricula analyzed.

The issue highlights the need for improved training to address childhood obesity effectively.

Abstract

This short communication evaluates the inclusion of content about overweight and obesity in children within the curricula of five Australian medical schools. Despite the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and its significant health impacts, the analysis reveals substantial gaps in the coverage of obesity-related topics, particularly those focused on children. The findings highlight the need for a more consistent and structured approach to obesity education in medical training. Enhancing curricula to include comprehensive obesity education, especially related to childhood, is crucial for preparing future doctors to address this growing public health issue effectively and sensitively.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-025-02527-0.

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