Integrated Approaches to Combatting Childhood Obesity

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> The global prevalence of childhood obesity has grown sharply in recent decades. Obesity is considered a public health problem which directly affects the health status of children in numerous ways. To combat this trend, integrated approaches are necessary to prevent childhood obesity. Strategies require a comprehensive perspective at individual and parental level alongside the adoption of measures to engage the community and environment. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> Prevention is addressed as crucial in limiting the pediatric obesity epidemic in the long term. Breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding are recognized as early dietary factors that affect the future risk of obesity development during the first 2 years of life. During childhood and adolescence, dietary patterns, eating habits, portion size, eating frequencies, and family meals are important dietary factors to target for preventive strategies, as well as parenting style which is influenced by parents’ education. Physical activity promotion and the reduction of sedentary behavior are also recommended. The adherence of children and families to obesity prevention programs is highly dependent on socioeconomic factors. Moreover, setting food quality standards and public policies to promote healthy lifestyle habits is strongly advocated. The implementation of cost-effective preventive strategies is of high priority and requires an integrated approach by healthcare services. All stakeholders involved should take an active role in supporting and empowering children and families in order to cope with this multifactorial and complex disease.

Risk Factors, Clinical Consequences, Prevention, and Treatment of Childhood Obesity

“…Healthy Eating (HEI) study observed that obesity in adolescents correlated with diet quality [ 14 ]. Additionally, skipping breakfast is a critical risk factor for obesity development, as several studies reported a significant association between skipping breakfast and the risk of adiposity [ 15 ].…”

Children’s Diets in a Changing World

“…They combine this with a plethora of energysaving devices, mechanization of the workplace, and the temptations of sedentary past times, and it is little wonder that the world has got fatter. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 38 million children under 5 years worldwide were overweight or obese; almost half of whom live in Asia In their paper "Integrated Approaches to Combatting Childhood Obesity," Elvira Verducia and colleagues discuss the individual components of the obesogenic environment of the Anthropocene [4]. They make individual recommendations for tackling each aspect but, in common with other commentators, stress that progress against obesity will not be achieved without adopting integrated approaches to simultaneously tackle all (or at least most) of the contributory drivers.…”

“…In their paper “Integrated Approaches to Combatting Childhood Obesity,” Elvira Verducia and colleagues discuss the individual components of the obesogenic environment of the Anthropocene [4]. They make individual recommendations for tackling each aspect but, in common with other commentators, stress that progress against obesity will not be achieved without adopting integrated approaches to simultaneously tackle all (or at least most) of the contributory drivers.…”

Family Social Support and Weight-Related Behaviors of School-Age Children: An Exploratory Analysis

“…Additionally, childhood obesity is associated with increased risk of adult obesity, which is related to poor health throughout adulthood and increased premature mortality [2]. Numerous modifiable factors increase obesity risk, including inadequate intake of fruits/vegetables, irregular breakfast consumption, excessive intake of sugarsweetened beverages, limited physical activity, frequent sedentary activity, and inadequate sleep duration [3][4][5][6][7][8] Parents play a pivotal role in mitigating obesity risk for children [9,10]. Parents primarily influence their children's behaviors through role modeling and reinforcement of healthy behaviors [9,10].…”