THE GABRIEL POST

By Dr GUIRLÈNE NICOLAS

Pediatrician

TCI PEDIATRIC PLACE

Introduction
Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It’s particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once considered adult problems: diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Childhood obesity can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression.

Causes
Lifestyle issues, too little activity and too many calories from food and drinks are the main contributors to childhood obesity. But genetic and hormonal factors might play a role as well.

Risk factors
Many factors, usually working in combination, increase your child’s risk of becoming overweight:
✓ Diet. Regularly eating high-calorie foods, such as fast foods, baked goods and vending machine snacks, can cause your child to gain weight. Candy and desserts also can cause weight gain, and more and more evidence points to sugary drinks, including fruit juices and sports drinks, as culprits in obesity in some people.
✓ Lack of exercise : Too much time spent in sedentary activities, such as watching television or playing video games, also contributes to the problem.
✓ Family factors : If your child comes from a family of overweight people, he or she may be more likely to put on weight.
✓ Psychological factors : Personal, parental and family stress can increase a child’s risk of obesity.
✓ Socioeconomic factors : People in some communities have limited resources and limited access to supermarkets. As a result, they might buy convenience foods that don’t spoil quickly, such as frozen meals, crackers and cookies.
✓ Certain medications: prednisone, lithium, amitriptyline, paroxetine (Paxil), gabapentin
(Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) and propranolol (Inderal, Hemangeol).

Complications:
Physical complications of childhood obesity may include:

1. Type 2 diabetes : This chronic condition affects the way your child’s body uses sugar (glucose).
2. High cholesterol and high blood pressure : These factors can contribute to the buildup of plaques in the arteries, which can cause arteries to narrow and harden, possibly leading to a heart attack
   or stroke later in life.
3. Joint pain : Extra weight causes extra stress on hips and knees. Childhood obesity can cause pain
   and sometimes injuries in the hips, knees and back.
4. Breathing problems : Asthma is more common in children who are overweight. These children
   are also more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially serious disorder in which a child’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
5. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) : Which can lead to scarring and liver damage.
   Social and emotional complications

Children who have obesity may experience teasing or bullying by their peers. This can result in a loss of self-esteem and an increased risk of depression and anxiety.

Prevention
One of the best strategies to reduce childhood obesity is to improve the eating and exercise habits of
your entire family. Treating and preventing childhood obesity helps protect your child’s health now and in the future.

To help prevent excess weight gain in your child, you can:

✓ Set a good example : Make healthy eating and regular physical activity a family affair. Everyone will benefit and no one will feel singled out.
✓ Have healthy snacks available : Options include air-popped popcorn without butter, fruits with low-fat yogurt, baby carrots with hummus, or whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk.
✓ Offer new foods multiple times : Don’t be discouraged if your child doesn’t immediately like a new food. It usually takes multiple exposures to a food to gain acceptance.
✓ Choose nonfood rewards :Promising candy for good behavior is a bad idea.
✓ Be sure your child gets enough sleep :Sleep deprivation can cause hormonal imbalances that lead to increased appetite.
✓ Also, be sure your child sees the doctor for well-child checkups at least once a year. During this visit, the doctor measures your child’s height and weight and calculates his or her body mass index (BMI).

Treatment

Treatment for childhood obesity is based on your child’s age and whether he or she has other medical conditions. Treatment usually includes changes in your child’s eating habits and physical activity level. In certain circumstances, treatment might include medications or weight-loss surgery.

✓ Prioritize fruits and vegetables. Limit TV times.
✓ Limit sweetened beverages. Prioritize physical activities.
✓ Avoid fast food. Find activities your child likes.
✓ Sit down together for family meals. Help your child focus on positive goals.
✓ Serve appropriate portion size. Discourage dieting and skipping meals.
✓ Find reasons to praise your child’s efforts. Be patient.

When to see a doctor
If you’re worried that your child is putting on too much weight, talk to his or her doctor. The doctor will consider your child’s history of growth and development, your family’s weight-for-height history, and
where your child lands on the growth charts. This can help determine if your child’s weight is in an unhealthy range.

Conclusion

Addressing childhood obesity requires a comprehensive approach that involves understanding its causes,recognizing the risk factors, and implementing effective prevention and treatment strategies. By fostering healthier habits within the family and seeking professional guidance when necessary, we can prevent this growing issue and support our children in achieving better health outcomes and a more positive lifestyle.

Obesity and overweight (who.int)