Overweight in children and adolescents: pathophysiology, consequences, prevention, and treatment.
The prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents has dramatically increased. There may be vulnerable periods for weight gain during childhood and adolescence that also offer opportunities for prevention of overweight. Overweight in children and adolescents can result in a variety of adverse health outcomes, including type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and the metabolic syndrome. The best approach to this problem is prevention of abnormal weight gain. Several strategies for prevention are presented. In addition, treatment approaches are presented, including behavioral, pharmacological, and surgical treatment. Childhood and adolescent overweight is one of the most important current public health concerns.
Daniels
Stephen R
SR
Arnett
Donna K
DK
Eckel
Robert H
RH
Gidding
Samuel S
SS
Hayman
Laura L
LL
Kumanyika
Shiriki
S
Robinson
Thomas N
TN
Scott
Barbara J
BJ
St Jeor
Sachiko
S
Williams
Christine L
CL
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy