Parameters for Child Obesity Treatment
There are several things that need to be taken into consideration in order to develop an effective course of child obesity treatment. Without a distinct definition of obesity it is almost impossible to develop the right child obesity treatment and if you are actually treating the appropriate thing. Without this kind of knowledge it is probable that what seems to be a good approach to child obesity treatment could actually do more harm than good.
In general, when people eat more calories than it burns this is when obesity occurs. The causes of obesity, more specifically, can be quite varied going from genetic and biological influences to behavior or cultural factors.
First, a Defininition of Obesity
Obesity is often defined as the excessive accumulation of fat in the body, and is prevalent when total body weight is more than 25% fat in boys and 32% in girls. Childhood obesity is usually defined as 120% of the ideal weight-for-height ratio. Needless to say, if obesity is not dealt with it can develop into clinically severe obesity or even morbid obesity which is usually defined as being 100 pounds or more than the ideal body weight and can often lead to serious chronic disease.
Obese kids need child obesity treatment because they are at an increased risk of becoming obese aadults, and are more prone to certain illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, low self esteem and more stress on weight-bearing joints.
Basic Child Obesity Treatment
First, child obesity treatment starts with early and appropriate intervention into weight control. The goal of weight loss for adolescents and children is not weight loss alone but to diminish the weight gain allowing the child to develop into their normal body weight gradually.
Second, child obesity treatment should adopt a formal exercise program, which can make the youngster more active allow for more fat burning, increasing energy expenditure and helping to maintain weight. Note that almost all of the studies have shown that unless it is accompanied by other changes such as nutrition education or behavior modification, exercise by itself cannot help in losing weight.
Third, another related aspect of child obesity treatment is diet management. It can be psychologically damaging for a youngster to endure extended fasting or extremes in caloric intake. It may distort the youngster’s concept of good eating and may also negatively influence the development of the child’s body. It is critical to help a youngster have a nutritious and balanced diet as well as a slight calorie restriction.
Fourthare behavioral strategies that can be used for child obesity treatment. There are a number of behavior modification techniques that can be implemented by youngsters that adults use to treat obesity. These include self-monitoring and record keeping of food intake along with physical activity. Slowing down the rate of eating, using incentives and rewards for desirable behavior, and limiting the place and time of eating are effective as well
Beneficial child obesity treatment is a combination of diet management, moderate exercise and behavior modification all of which affect the lifestyle of the child. With this type of child obesity treatment the child will develop appropriate life choices which will greatly affect their health and well being both in the short term and for life.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Leave a Reply