Childhood Obesity - Causes and Treatment Options

The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased recently. The main causes are behavioral and environmental variables, while genes also play a significant part in controlling body weight.

The most extensively used technique for detecting childhood obesity is calculating body mass index (BMI). Children's abnormal BMI cutoffs are defined by percentiles based on age and sex.

Children with obesity are more likely to have type 2 diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance. In order to combat the obesity pandemic, it is crucial to prevent excessive weight gain in kids because obesity is difficult to treat at any age and often progresses to obesity in adults. The cornerstone of overweight treatment is changing one's way of life to improve diet and up one's physical activity. In highly obese teenagers, pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery may be used in addition to lifestyle changes.

What are the causes of childhood obesity?

The causes of childhood obesity are frequently the consequence of a confluence of elements, including genetics, way of life, and environmental influences. The following are a few of the most typical causes of childhood obesity:

Genetics: Children who have obese relatives are more prone to become obese themselves. According to studies, up to 70% of a person's risk of being overweight or obese can be attributed to heredity.

Lifestyle: There are many factors that contribute to overweight children, including a sedentary lifestyle, a lack of exercise, and poor eating habits. Overweight or obese children are more likely to spend more time watching television or playing video games. Furthermore, kids who eat diets heavy in calories, sugar, and fat have a higher chance of becoming obese.

Environmental Factors: Children may be more at risk for obesity if they reside in areas with limited access to safe exercise facilities or healthy dietary options. The degree of parental education, household income, and cultural background can also play a role in the development of childhood obesity.

Medical diseases: Obesity in children can be influenced by certain medical diseases, such as thyroid issues or hormone abnormalities. These disorders, however uncommon, only make up a minor portion of occurrences of pediatric obesity.

Psychological factors: Anxiety, despair, and emotional stress can cause binge eating and increase the risk of childhood obesity. Additionally, there may be a higher risk of obesity among kids who have gone through traumatic experiences like abuse or neglect.

Medication: Some children may gain weight as a result of taking specific medications, such as those used to treat seizures or psychiatric illnesses. However, these drugs are not a prevalent contributor to childhood obesity and are only ever provided when absolutely necessary.

Each child's condition is different, and there are many elements that contribute to childhood obesity as a complex problem. It is possible to encourage appropriate weight management and lower the risk of long-term health effects by addressing the underlying causes of childhood obesity.

Obesity treatment options for Kids & teens

Behavioral and lifestyle treatment

Treatment for obesity always includes counseling on behavior and lifestyle. Your doctor will discuss behavioral treatment alternatives that encourage healthy behaviors with you. These can entail working with medical experts, participating in a community program, or seeing your childhood obesity specialist in Coimbatore frequently. To obtain a weight that shields them against long-term health issues, certain patients may benefit from treatment.

Weight-loss medication & surgery

An effective treatment for obesity is the prescription of weight loss drugs under the guidance of a trained specialist. Weight loss surgery is a safe and effective alternative for adolescents who are more seriously obese or who are experiencing chronic health issues.

It's important to look for complete treatment programs that have knowledge in treating adolescents and teenagers with weight loss surgery and pharmaceutical prescriptions. Surgery or medication is not a substitute for high-quality behavior and lifestyle therapy. Together, you, your kid, and your child's physician will decide on the most appropriate course of action for your family.

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