[Obesity in childhood].
It is impossible to make general statements on obesity, and apply them to all adipose patients. These statements can be more or less valid for various populations of obese subjects depending on the definition of obesity chosen. Obesity in infancy should not be disregarded, although it has not been proven that obese infants become obese adults, whereas obese adolescents tend to remain obese. Obesity is genetically determined yet exogenous factors are more or less necessary for its development. The significance of risk factors changes during childhood, depends on the gender, and varies with different populations. The hypothesis that obese patients have a diminished thermogenesis should be considered although it is not clear whether this applies to all obese patients. Research on disregulation of appetite could result in further clarification of the pathogenic mechanism causing obesity. Treatment of obesity is necessary in patients with 120% or more overweight related to height, preferably before age of 7 years to take advantage of further growth as a regulating factor.
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D009863:Only Child; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
Adipositas im Kindesalter.