The Edmonton Obesity Staging System for Pediatrics (EOSS-P) is a risk stratification tool that falls within the “Assess” and “Advise” ‘A’s of the 5As of Obesity Management developed by Obesity Canada. It is meant to be used by all medical practitioners from community-based to tertiary care practice, from family physicians to pediatricians, and practitioners of sub-specialist pediatric care. Allied health professionals can also aid in the completion of the tool.

In utilizing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for each item contained within the EOSS-P, there are some assumptions and expectations that are to be understood:

• The EOSS-P tool is meant to be used in the context of both a new consult/referral and follow-up visits. As such, diagnoses or clinical findings contained within the EOSS-P will either be noted on initial history and physical examination or provided to you from prior assessments.
• Every patient seen in the clinical environment for obesity should have the following recorded at least annually – height, weight, BMI; all plotted on standardized growth curves.
• First line recommendations for all patients being assessed and managed for obesity include nutrition, activity, sleep and mental health assessments, advice and support.
• Not every item contained within the EOSS-P is meant to be managed by the individual practitioner. Physicians and allied health care team members should use their discretion as to what they can and cannot manage and refer accordingly.
• All management guidelines beyond Stage 1 (ie. Stages 2 and 3) should optimally include referral to a secondary or tertiary level interdisciplinary pediatric weight management program for more intensive support if available.
• The EOSS-P is meant to help risk stratify patients that are seen in the clinical environment and not used as the sole measure to manage pediatric obesity

For more information about an approach to and tools to use in the management of pediatric obesity, please refer to the 5As of Pediatric Obesity Management Toolkit and Videos.