Addressing Pediatric Obesity in Clinic

Abstract

There is an epidemic of pediatric obesity in the United States. In most cases, there is an excess in the amount of calories consumed, compared with the amount of calories expended. Numerous body systems are affected by pediatric obesity, with complications varying between boys and girls. Behavioral, genetic, and environmental factors affect the ability of children to avoid becoming obese. Primary care physicians should screen for obesity in children as much as possible. Associated risk factors for obesity should be uncovered. Methods of preventing obesity should be discussed routinely with children and their families. Healthy dietary habits are key, and so are family-oriented interventions, such as eating together at dinnertime. One hour of moderate to vigorous activity daily is recommended for children and adolescents. While pediatric bariatric surgery is an option, there are also numerous nonpharmacological and pharmacological measures available as management for pediatric obesity. Family-based approaches, such as reducing screen time, have been very successful. Non–weight-bearing exercises also help children and adolescents expend calories without causing injury to themselves. Family availability, activity preference, and developmental levels should all be considerations when managing pediatric obesity. Motivational interviewing may also be helpful, especially when customized for each specific patient and family. Clinicians will play an increasing role in terms of identifying, treating, and preventing pediatric obesity; measures that can be done in the clinic should be considered more and more.

Barriers and enablers for adopting lifestyle behavior changes in adolescents with obesity: A multi-centre, qualitative study

“…To help achieve these outcomes, adolescent-specific lifestyle recommendations have been developed, which include 6 to 8 daily servings of fruits and vegetables [9], 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) [10], no more than 2 hours of daily leisure-time sedentary activity [11], and 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night [11]. In Canada, a number of weight management programs exist [12] in which multidisciplinary teams deliver lifestyle and behavioral therapeutic interventions using a variety of behavioral change techniques (e.g., motivational interviewing [13], cognitive behavioral therapy [14]). There is growing evidence to support the effectiveness of lifestyle-based interventions for positive long-term changes in weight, especially those that combine behavioral, diet, and physical activity components [15].…”

Relationship of Calories Intake and Physical Activity in Adolescents in Colima, Mexico: A Cross-sectional Study

“…The unhealthy lifestyle, high calorie intake and sedentary life are the most important risk factors for developing obesity and changes in these factors are essential to reduce adiposity, for which the motivation for these changes must be reinforced [9]. Strasburger [10], point out that by decreasing the time the adolescent spends in front of the screen, calorie intake decreases, as well as dietary habits that should be promoted to reduce or prevent obesity, and limiting eating in restaurants, limiting consumption of sweetened beverages, decrease the portion size of food as well as eating as a family without distractors favor healthy behavior in terms of child and adolescent feeding [11].…”