CHILD AND ADOLESCENT

OBESITY
Maria Virginia Aloi Deheza, DTR Student,
Westchester Community College

STATISTICS OF AN EPIDEMIC

WHAT IS OBESITY?
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess
body fat has accumulated to the extent that it
may have an adverse effect on health, leading
to reduced life expectancy and/or increased
health problems.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE

OBESE?

Body mass index (BMI), a measurement which

compares weight and height. BMI is a person's

weight in kilograms (kg) divided by his or her
height in meters squared.
Meaning

BMI

Normal weight

1924,9

Over weight

2529,9

Obesity I

3034,9

Obesity II

3539,9

Obesity III

40

RISK FACTORS
Race

Black

Hispanic

Native Americans

Parental obesity
High birth weight

> 4000 grams

Low birth weight

ADDITIONAL
Diabetes
Hypertension
Dyslipidemia
Sleep apnea
Asthma
Gall bladder disease
Joint pain
Cardiovascular disease

DISORDERS

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF

OBESITY?

CAUSES
Environmental
Genetic
Hormonal

U.S. Department of Agriculture: Food and Nutrition Service.

Children's diet in the mid-1990s: dietary intake and its relationship
with school meal participation (2001).

DIETARY HISTORY
Caretakers who feed the child (usually parents)
Food intake

High calorie foods that are low in nutritional value

Fast foods

Eating patterns

Timing, content, and location of meals and snacks

Control of consumption

ACTIVITY HISTORY
Ability to walk or ride bike to school
Time in play
Schools curriculum
After-school and weekend activities
Screen-time

Gortmaker SL, Must A, Sobol AM, et al. Television viewing as a cause of

increasing obesity among children in the United States, 1986-1990.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.1996 Apr;150(4):356-62.

FAMILY HISTORY
Obesity in first-degree relatives
Children of 2 overweight parents are 60-80% likely to be

overweight, whereas children of 2 lean parents have only

about a 9% likelihood of being overweight.

Co-morbidities

Cardiovascular disease

Hypertension

Diabetes

Liver or gall bladder disease

Respiratory insufficiencies

PSYCHOSOCIAL HISTORY
Depression
School and social issues
Substance abuse

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?

Education, Education, Education
One at a time
Children
Adults

EDUCATION
Model good habits
Healthy foods

Childs ideas

Making them palatable

Portion size and Serving Size Portion distortion problem

EDUCATION CONTD
Small steps
Exercise and activity
Mutually agreeable changes with parents
Make changes a family affair

WAYS TO MANAGE OBESITY

start a weight-management program
change eating habits (eat slowly, develop a routine)
plan meals and make better food selections (eat less fatty

foods, avoid junk and fast foods)

control portions and consume less calories
increase physical activity (especially walking) and have a
more active lifestyle
know what to eat at school
eat meals as a family instead of while watching television or
at the computer
do not use food as a reward
limit snacking
attend a support group
(e.g., Overeaters Anonymous)

DIET
Healthy eating is important in maintaining a healthy

new you.
What you don't want to do as an overweight adolescent is

to eat with no purpose. Consuming too many calories

results in unwanted body fat.

DIET
Organize your diet around the appropriate foods in the

food pyramid. Avoid greasy, fried foods, and steer more

toward baked and grilled foods. Fruits, vegetables and
whole grains play a huge role in eating healthy.

MORE ANSWERS
Lets move

http://www.letsmove.gov/

Campaign to end obesity

http://www.obesitycampaign.org/

TOGETHER WE CAN DEFEAT OBESITY !

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY

Do it for you!
Love who you are!
Respect your body!

Understand it, study what goes on inside

of you!
In the end it will make you feel confident

and happy about yourself!

READ MORE
http://www.livestrong.com/article/505215-help-for-obese-

teens/#ixzz1sihCmh23
http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/obesity_in

_children_and_teens
http://fitnessandkids.com/teenage-obesity.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_7744267_prevent-teen-

obesity.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/505215-help-for-obese-

teens/
www.ncafp.com/files/Child%20and%20Adolescent

%20Obesity.ppt

REFERENCES

Bhargava, SK, et al. Relation of serial changes in childhood bodymass index to impaired glucose tolerance in young adulthood,
NEJM, February 26, 2004; 350:9.
Carrel AL, et al. Improvement of fitness, body composition, and
insulin sensitivity in overweight children in a school-based exercise
program: a randomized controlled study. Archives of Pediatric and
Adolescent Medicine, October 2005; 159:963-8.
Childhood Obesity: Combating the Epidemic. Discovery Health CME,
September 2004.
Dietz, WH, et al. Overweight children and adolescents. NEJM,
May 19, 2005; 352:20.
Klish, WJ. Clinical evaluation of the obese child and adolescent.
UpToDate, March 6, 2006.
Klish, WJ. Definition; epidemiology; and etiology of obesity in
children and adolescents. UpToDate, January 15, 2006.
Weiss, R, et al. Obesity and the metabolic syndrome in children
and adolescents. NEJM, June 3, 2004; 350:23.
www.aafp.org Practical Advice for Family Physicians to Help
Overweight Patients. Monograph, 2003.
Nadine B. Skinner, MD