Childhood Obesity Obesity in children in the United States has been growing and causing children to develop comorbidities much sooner. This article addresses epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, complications, treatments, and patient education of childhood obesity.
Epidemiology
There was a reported rise in childhood obesity reported between the 1960s and 2000 in the United States. According to Burns, Dunn, Brady, Starr, & Blosser (2013) nearly 12% of children 2 to 19 years old have body mass indexes (BMI) greater than or equal to the 97th percentile. There is also a significant prevalence to childhood obesity by race and gender, whereas black girls of non-Hispanic heritage have the greater BMI and Mexican-American boys have the next highest …show more content…
It is important when assessing childhood obesity to check for specific causes such as: diabetes, hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovary disease, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome or pseudohypoparathyroidism. The following lab test may be indicated to rule out any genetic or hormonal causes: fasting lipid panel, thyroid function, serum leptin, adrenal function, possibly karyotype, growth hormone secretion and function, assessment of reproductive hormones, serum calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone levels (Schwarz, …show more content…
According to Schwarz (2016) controlled trials have demonstrated that lifestyle exercise programs, in association with dietary restrictions, provide long-term weight control in children and adolescents.
Community Changes Burns et al. (2013) states that individual and family interventions may not be sufficient in dealing with the causes of obesity. The community needs to help and the CDC recommends the following 6 community actions: increasing access to affordable healthy foods, supporting healthy food choices, promoting breastfeeding, encouraging physical activity, providing safe communities to exercise in, organizing to create and continue health-supportive change.
Psychopathology and Intensive Intervention Children with severe obesity may develop psychological disorders such as depression, mania, and may attempt suicide. These patients need intensive intervention possibly even requiring hospitalization and the need for family support throughout this intervention program.
Epidemiology
There was a reported rise in childhood obesity reported between the 1960s and 2000 in the United States. According to Burns, Dunn, Brady, Starr, & Blosser (2013) nearly 12% of children 2 to 19 years old have body mass indexes (BMI) greater than or equal to the 97th percentile. There is also a significant prevalence to childhood obesity by race and gender, whereas black girls of non-Hispanic heritage have the greater BMI and Mexican-American boys have the next highest …show more content…
It is important when assessing childhood obesity to check for specific causes such as: diabetes, hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovary disease, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome or pseudohypoparathyroidism. The following lab test may be indicated to rule out any genetic or hormonal causes: fasting lipid panel, thyroid function, serum leptin, adrenal function, possibly karyotype, growth hormone secretion and function, assessment of reproductive hormones, serum calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone levels (Schwarz, …show more content…
According to Schwarz (2016) controlled trials have demonstrated that lifestyle exercise programs, in association with dietary restrictions, provide long-term weight control in children and adolescents.
Community Changes Burns et al. (2013) states that individual and family interventions may not be sufficient in dealing with the causes of obesity. The community needs to help and the CDC recommends the following 6 community actions: increasing access to affordable healthy foods, supporting healthy food choices, promoting breastfeeding, encouraging physical activity, providing safe communities to exercise in, organizing to create and continue health-supportive change.
Psychopathology and Intensive Intervention Children with severe obesity may develop psychological disorders such as depression, mania, and may attempt suicide. These patients need intensive intervention possibly even requiring hospitalization and the need for family support throughout this intervention program.