Childhood Obesity Awareness - Dr. Muffis

1. Childhood Obesity Awareness

2. Introduction • Increasingly common problem in children it is difficult to treat. • The tendency for childhood obesity to persist into adult obesity • The prevention of childhood obesity is not adequately addressed despite a rapid rise in its prevalence • The adverse consequences of childhood obesity, such as development of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and type 2 diabetes, are under- recognised. • Treatments have only limited success, resulting in a negative approach to treatment strategies 

3. Obesity in Children • Obesity in children is not quite the same as stoutness in grown-ups - all kids and adolescents need to develop. • Basic proportions of weight, for example, the weight file (BMI) can't be used in isolation, instead they should be expressed as a BMI percentile in relation to an age and sex matched population. • In the anticipation and treatment of childhood obesity, dietary vitality confinement, increases in activity and decreases in sedentary behaviour must not compromise normal growth and development • weight maintenance is often a suitable goal, rather than weight loss 

4. Causes of Obesity • Genetic • Dietary • Environmental

5. Genetic • Strong relationship between the bodyweight of the child and biological parents • Resting energy expenditure genetically determined – influences obesity • Various genes appeared to be included • Discovery of leptin – big bang in the field of obesity

6. Dietary • Reduced meal frequency and ‘gorging’ promotes weight gain, in contrast to ‘nibbling’ • High calorie dense foods

7. Environmental • In the first year – duration of feeding - age of introduction of solid foods • Second year – maternal weight • Vigorous feeding • Sedentary lifestyle • TV viewing - lowers the metabolic rate - increased caloric intake during viewing - Food advertisements and messages

8. Thank you