Recent reports have suggested that the problem of childhood and adolescent obesity has been exaggerated in Australia, and that community-wide obesity prevention initiatives are not warranted; we argue that this is not an accurate reflection of the situation.

Available data indicate that obesity affects 6%–8% of Australian schoolchildren, and that the proportion has continued to increase in recent years.

Childhood and adolescent obesity is associated with a wide range of immediate health concerns, as well as increasing the risk of disease in adulthood. Some weight-related health problems are also found in overweight children.

A range of strategies, including whole-of-community obesity prevention programs, will be required to tackle this problem.

Concerns about disordered eating in children and adolescents should not preclude appropriate action on childhood obesity.