Obesity
Childhood Obesity
What is childhood obesity?
Morbid or extreme obesity is no longer a disease seen only in adults. Obesity is increasingly affecting children as well. Obesity means having an excessive amount of body fat. Overweight and obesity are officially defined using Body Mass Index (BMI), a scale that identifies healthy, overweight and obese weight ranges. For children, the BMI weight ranges also take into account developmental age and sex. A child is said to be overweight or obese when his or her BMI exceeds the healthy range for his or her age and stage. Generally, children whose BMI is greater than the 85th percentile are considered overweight; BMI greater than the 95th percentile are considered obese.
Causes
Children become overweight for a variety of reasons. The most common causes are genetic factors, lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of these factors. A physical exam and some blood tests can rule out the possibility of a medical condition, such as a hormonal problem.
Complications of Childhood obesity
- Health risks: these include conditions that have in the past been diagnosed only in adults, such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, chronic inflammation, sleep apnea, asthma, skin conditions ( heat rash, fungal infections and acne).
- Emotional and social problems: these include bullying, low self-esteem, poor body image, poor quality of life, eating disorders and depression.
- Adult obesity: there are close links between adult obesity (and health risks associated) and obesity in childhood.
Treatment
Treatment involves an initial 2 sessions with one or both parents. Following sessions can be negotiated according to family needs.
Main areas addressed in treatment:
- How to manage your child's comfort/stress eating
- How to assist your child to recognize and eat in response to hunger and fullness cues
- Establishing non-food coping skills
- Family behavior change around mealtimes and activity
- Increasing children's self esteem
- How to manage teasing and bullying at school
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