Pediatric obesity treatment has traditionally focused on body mass index (BMI) and has had limited success. Recent research has suggested new ways to approach this topic that focuses more on holistic measures of health and inclusion of a larger population of children. This paper discusses new evidence in the prevention of chronic disease and treatment of obesity that has a body positive and mental health lens as well as integrating research from several areas of health, including the prevention of chronic disease. Practical medical and mental health assessments tools are suggested for clinical use. Implications for an individualized, positive treatment future are presented.
Pediatric obesity is an urgent and complex public health issue. The high proportions of children who meet the definition of overweight or obesity highlight the need for effective and accessible services to reduce short-and long-term health risks. In our experience, we have encountered a number of challenges common in pediatric obesity management across our clinical and research centers. For the purpose of this review, these challenges and our real-world experiences are grouped as issues that include (i) caring for children with obesity and their families and (ii) working within the health care system. Overall, we highlight a number of lessons learned from our years of experience and detail ongoing initiatives designed to optimize health services for managing obesity developed for children and their families.
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