How To Treat Childhood Obesity

When one thinks of a child, they tend to apply the descriptive terms energetic and active. While this would be the ideal situation for a child, it is not the reality in all cases. Roughly one in five children suffer from childhood obesity. It has become such a significant and widespread issue that individuals and groups have taken to placing the blame on businesses and the media. While there are easy to choose options for a child that would lead to obesity, the blame cannot be placed on any outside source. Childhood obesity is extremely dangerous and requires the child to begin some form of treatment immediately. Of course, there are underlying circumstances as to what will and will not work for each child, but there is an array of options available to try.

Modify Eating Habits

First and foremost, childhood obesity has the greatest link to the foods the child consumes. It has been found weight is directly linked to calories. So, to gain weight, a person must consume more calories than they are burning. The specific caloric amount necessary will be based on age and gender. For example, a moderately active child between four and eight years old will need 1400 to 1600 daily calories. Regardless of specifics, making changes to the diet of an obese child will, without a doubt, make a difference in their health. Unhealthy options, such as junk food and fast food, will need to be cut out and substituted, which may mean changing the lifestyle of everyone in the home. Pushing fresh vegetables and fruits as snacks and offering healthy meal options along with portion control will aid in treating childhood obesity.

Continue reading to learn about physical activity and treating childhood obesity.

Encourage Physical Activities

Physical activity, or lack thereof, is nearly as important as nutrition when it comes to childhood obesity. As mentioned during the section about modifying eating habits, weight is based upon calories consumed versus calories burned. Every physical movement burns some number of calories. It is typical for an obese child to refuse any extra physical activity outside of everyday movements. There are a few things parents can do to encourage physical activities. If the child feels as though they will be left out, such as if the whole family or a group of friends are partaking, they have a higher chance of taking part in the activity themselves. This can include going to the park, walking, or taking part in fitness classes.

Continue reading to learn about what to do with television and video games to fight against childhood obesity.

Limit Video Games And Television

In today's modern world, quite a lot of time is put into stimulation through screens. Be it a game, television program, or school work, it is likely a child spends a decent chunk of time in front of a screen every day. While this is happening, the child is dormant. This is a problem, especially since the time spent sitting or laying could be used as an opportunity to get active. Make it a priority to limit video games and television time. Setting a specific time frame where a child has access to these stimulants is the most efficient option, as this way, physical activity will be more appealing since they will not have the option to choose screen time.

Continue reading for more advice on treating childhood obesity.

Medication

When diet and exercise do not seem to be aiding in the treatment of an obese child, medical intervention might be an option. There are very few options approved for use in children, as the risks and outcomes are relatively unclear. Two basic medications could be prescribed if a pediatrician happens to find it necessary. Orlistat prevents the absorption of fat in the intestines in those twelve and up, while sibutramine causes the brain to send signals that will make those sixteen and up feel full quicker. In any case, any medication should be thoroughly researched before considering whether or not to administer it.

Continue reading to discover the details on the final option for treating childhood obesity.

Surgery

In extreme cases, pediatric weight loss surgery could be an option, especially if other treatment options have continued to fail. Currently, there are three common surgeries performed on severely obese children. These surgical options include Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), and vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Each of these procedures works to limit the amount of food a child consumes. It is important to understand these are serious surgeries, which means they each come with their own risk factors, side effects, and aftercare procedures. It is recommended surgery only be considered an option in the most aggressive cases of childhood obesity.