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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2007.114991v1 98/3/411    most recent Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Finkelstein, E. A. Articles by Trogdon, J. G. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Finkelstein, E. A. Articles by Trogdon, J. G. Related Collections Obesity, Overweight, Underweight Other Child and Adolescent Health Exercise/Physical Activity

Eric A. Finkelstein, PhD and Justin G. Trogdon, PhD

The authors are with RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Justin G. Trogdon, PhD, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194 (e-mail: jtrogdon{at}rti.org).

We investigated the appropriateness of basing childhood obesity interventions on expectations of return on investment (ROI). We show that excess weight is indeed associated with greater medical expenditures even among children and adolescents. However, under current best practices, it is unlikely that interventions will be able to meet the level of effectiveness required at a low enough implementation cost to show positive ROI. The merits of childhood obesity interventions should be based on their ability to efficiently control weight and improve health compared with alternative uses for available resources. They should not be based on the potential for short-term financial savings.