Childhood Obesity

What is Childhood obesity?
Obesity is defined on the basis of BMI (Body Mass Index). BMI is calculated with the formula weight/height 2 x 100. For children, age and sex-specific Indian BMI charts are used. Obesity is defined as a BMI> 95th%ile and overweight as a BMI> 85th%ile.

What are the causes of Childhood Obesity?
More than 95% of cases of childhood obesity are due to an obesogenic lifestyle. This happens with the wrong diet and wrong lifestyle.

What are pointers towards an underlying disease as a cause of obesity in children?
If an obese child is short, has any developmental delay, visual or hearing problems, or extra or fewer digits of hands and feet, then there may be a possibility of underlying disease as the cause of obesity.

What to expect when a child with obesity is brought to our clinic?
Apart from taking weight and height, the waist circumference, and body fat analysis will be done and all plotted onto a graph. A detailed history and examination of the child shall also be done. Then a few investigations, mainly regarding complications of obesity will be ordered.
On the second visit, after reviewing all reports, a thorough counseling session on weight management would be done. Written instructions about dietary and lifestyle changes would be provided. The child is then recalled after one month or three months depending on their convenience.

What are the goals of weight management in children?
In children <10 years, the goal is to prevent further weight gain rather than weight loss over the next 1-2 years. If the weight of the child does not increase and the height keeps increasing, the BMI shall reduce over a period of time. In children >10 years and adolescents, the goal is to lose 0.5-2 kg/month.