Overview of paediatric obesity for the paediatric mental health provider.
Childhood obesity represents a significant challenge for paediatric healthcare delivery. As obesity rates increase, obese children and adolescents are at significant risk for the development of a myriad of medical and surgical problems as well as mental health problems. Moreover, children with mental health problems are increasingly presenting to their psychiatrists with obesity. Treatment of paediatric obesity requires a multidisciplinary approach with incorporation of the family into the treatment plan although still typically only offering suboptimal results. Paediatric providers from all disciplines should focus efforts primarily on obesity prevention and encouragement of healthy lifestyles, while incorporating treatment for obesity when such efforts fail. The goals of this article are to provide an overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, genetics, clinical features and treatment strategies for paediatric obesity.
Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287-2631, USA. ascheim1@jhmi.edu
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Scheimann
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy