Based on new evidence that children and adolescents can be effectively treated for obesity, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that clinicians screen children ages 6 to 18 years for obesity and refer them to programs to improve their weight status. Comprehensive programs included 3 components:

Counseling for weight loss or healthy diet
Counseling for physical activity or a physical activity program
Behavioral management techniques, such as goal setting and self monitoring.

Moderate- to high-intensity programs involve more than 25 hours of contact with the child and/or the family over a 6-month period. Families who seek treatment for obesity should look for comprehensive programs that address weight control through healthy food choices, physical activity, and behavioral skill-building.

The recommendation was released online on January 18. The recommendation will be published in the February issue of Pediatrics and is also available on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Web site at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspschobes.htm.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is the leading independent panel of experts in prevention and primary care. The Task Force, which is supported by AHRQ, conducts rigorous, impartial assessments of the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of a broad range of clinical preventive services, including screening, counseling, and preventive medications. Its recommendations are considered the gold standard for clinical preventive services.

3/1/10 Public Comment on Key Questions of the Evidence: Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults

Through a partnership with the Effective Health Care Program, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is offering an opportunity for public comment on the key questions of the evidence on Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease. To provide comments, go to http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/research-available-for-comment/comment-key-questions/?pageaction=displayquestions&topicid=163&questionset=113 and select "Comparative Effectiveness Screening, Monitoring, and Treatment of Early Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults."

As the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force works to increase the transparency of its methods and processes, additional opportunities for public comment will be available. Information about these opportunities will be posted on http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/.

4/2/10 Public Comment on Methodology: Identifying Research Priorities for Clinical Preventive Services

In the interest of encouraging research on topics that have critical evidence gaps and for which the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has issued a statement of ”insufficient evidence” (known as an “I Statement”), the Task Force and AHRQ are working together to establish priorities for research in the area of clinical preventive services. A working group has recently established draft methods for this process, and AHRQ is now offering an opportunity for public comment on the draft methodology. To provide comments, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm and follow the directions for submitting comments. The public comment period is open until May 14, 2010.

Additional information about the evidence-based recommendations of the Task Force and AHRQ's work to improve the delivery of effective clinical preventive services is available at: www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov.

4/15/10 Introducing the myhealthfinder Widget

Provide your visitors with free personalized health and wellness information at the click of a button. healthfinder.gov recently launched the myhealthfinder widget. The widget provides screening and prevention recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force based on age, sex, and pregnancy status.

healthfinder.gov also features the Be Active Your Way widget, an interactive quiz that provides physical activity tips and recommendations.

A widget is an online tool that can be easily added to any Web site or blog. Just add the widget to your site, and content will be automatically updated. It's easy, fun, and can be used over and over again.

View both widgets at www.healthfinder.gov/widgets.

healthfinder.gov is a Federal Government Web site offering trusted prevention and wellness resources for consumers. The site features actionable health information and tools presented in an easy-to-use format.

4/26/10 Public Comment on Key Questions of the Evidence: Screening and Treatment of Glaucoma

Through a partnership with the Effective Health Care Program, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is offering an opportunity for public comment on the key questions of the evidence on Screening and Treatment of Glaucoma. To provide comments, go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm and select "Comparative Effectiveness of Screening for Glaucoma" or "Comparative Effectiveness of Treatment for Glaucoma."

As the USPSTF works to increase the transparency of its methods and processes, additional opportunities for public comment will be available. Information about these opportunities will be posted on http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/.

7/8/10 Public Comment on Draft Recommendation: Screening for Osteoporosis

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on Screening for Osteoporosis. To provide comments, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm. The opportunity to comment on this draft recommendations statement is available until August 3, 2010.

The USPSTF is working to make its recommendations clearer and more useful. This is a new step as part of its ongoing effort to keep its work and methods clear to the public it serves.

The USPSTF is a national, independent panel of medical experts that makes recommendations, based on scientific evidence, to primary care doctors and other health care providers about which clinical preventive services they should offer their patients.

7/19/10 Introducing the electronic Preventive Services Selector Widget

Access recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) at the click of a button—introducing the electronic Preventive Services Selector Widget!

The electronic Preventive Services Selector (ePSS) is an application designed to help primary care clinicians identify the screening, counseling, and preventive medication services that are appropriate for their patients. The ePSS widget provides easy and free access to these clinical preventive service recommendations from the USPSTF.

A widget is an online tool that can be easily added to any Web site or blog. Embedding a short amount of web-based code will add the widget to your site and content will be automatically updated. It's easy, fun, and can be used over and over again!

You can find out more about the evidence-based recommendations of the USPSTF at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org and www.epss.ahrq.gov.

8/5/10 Solicitation of New Topic Nominations for USPSTF

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites individuals and organizations to nominate primary and secondary prevention topics pertaining to clinical preventive services that they would like the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to consider for review. For complete information and directions, please review the Federal Registry Notice at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-08-05/html/2010-19117.htm.

All topics previously reviewed by the USPSTF are available on its Web site: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/.

8/17/10 Public Comment on Draft Recommendation: Ocular Prophylaxis for Gonococcal Ophthalmia Neonatorum

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on prophylactic ocular topical medication for all newborns for the prevention of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum. This draft recommendation is a reaffirmation of the USPSTF's 2005 recommendation in support of prophylactic ocular topical medication for all newborns. To provide comments, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm. The opportunity to comment on this draft recommendations statement is available until September 13, 2010.

The USPSTF is working to make its recommendations clearer and more useful. This is a new step as part of its ongoing effort to keep its work and methods clear to the public it serves.

8/31/10 Solicitation of Nominations for USPSTF Members

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality invites nominations of individuals qualified to serve as members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF, a standing, independent panel of non-Federal experts that makes evidence-based recommendations to the health care community and the public regarding clinical preventive services, is composed of 16 members, who are appointed to serve staggered 4-year terms. New members are selected each year to replace approximately one fourth of the USPSTF members; that is, those who are completing their appointments.

For complete information, including member duties and qualification requirements, and directions for submitting nominations, please review the Federal Register notice at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-21500.pdf.

9/21/10 Public Comment on Draft Recommendation: Screening for Testicular Cancer

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on screening for testicular cancer. This draft recommendation is an update of the USPSTF's 2004 recommendation against screening for testicular cancer in asymptomatic adolescent and adult males. To provide comments, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm. The opportunity to comment on this draft recommendation statement is available until October 19, 2010.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is working to make its recommendations clearer and more useful. This is a new step as part of its ongoing effort to keep its work and methods clear to the public it serves.

11/30/10 Public Comment on Draft Recommendation: Screening for Bladder Cancer

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on screening for bladder cancer. This draft recommendation is an update of the USPSTF 2004 recommendation regarding screening for bladder cancer in adults. To provide comments, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm. The opportunity to comment on this draft recommendation statement is available until December 28, 2010.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is working to make its recommendations clearer and more useful. This is part of its ongoing effort to keep its work and methods clear to the public it serves.

12/16/10 Public Comment on Key Questions of the Evidence: Screening, Behavioral Counseling, and Pharmacologic Interventions in Primary Care to Reduce Unhealthy Alcohol Use

Through a partnership with the Effective Health Care Program, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is offering an opportunity for public comment on the key questions of the evidence on screening, behavioral counseling, and pharmacologic interventions in primary care to reduce unhealthy alcohol use. To provide comments, go to http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/research-available-for-comment/ and select "Screening, Behavioral Counseling, and Pharmacologic Interventions in Primary Care to Reduce Unhealthy Alcohol Use."

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