Addressing Childhood Obesity: Treatment & Prevention Strategies
Treating childhood obesity
Children who are overweight or obese can greatly benefit from health behaviour and lifestyle treatment. This approach involves a child-focused, family-centred, and coordinated care model, led by a patient-centred medical home. It may involve various healthcare providers such as paediatricians, registered dietitians, psychologists, nurses, exercise specialists, and social workers. Additionally, the involvement of families, schools, communities, and health policy is crucial.
Obesity has long-lasting and negative health effects, leading to morbidity, mortality, and significant social and economic consequences that can impact a child's quality of life. Recognising obesity as a chronic disease is essential to adopt a life course approach to identify and treat it as early as possible. This approach should continue throughout childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, with a smooth transition into adult care.
Read more about the Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Obesity published by the AAP in 2023.
