WORLD

Surgery- While surgery has been

performed on adolescents in extreme

Obesity
cases to treat obesity, it is only
considered for those with severe
medical conditions that can be

Day
improved by surgery.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH, LINDEN
March 4th,
2023

FOR MORE
INFORMATION:

regional Health Annex, Wismar St.

+592 444-3088 OR +592 646-7753

https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html

Preventing Obesity in children CHILDHOOD

OBESITY
There aren’t any simple solutions to
tackle childhood obesity. But parents and
caregivers can help with childhood
obesity prevention in many ways.
Be a positive role model
Reduce sugar intake
"The rise of obesity has
Encourage better sleep placed the lives of an entire
Take your child for regular generation at risk."
pediatrician visits
Childhood obesity continues to be a
serious health issue worldwide. A main
cause this is the behavior children pick
up from their parents and/or guardians.
What is Childhood Obesity?
Childhood obesity is a complex disease
that occurs when a child is above a
healthy weight for their age and height.
The medical definition of childhood
obesity is having a body mass index
(BMI) at or above the 95th percentile on
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s (CDC) specific growth
charts. Children’s BMI factors differ
from adults. For children, BMI is age-
and sex-specific since their body
compositions vary as they age.
Risks associated with Childhood
Obesity
Children who are obese are more likely
to carry the condition over into
adulthood. Additionally, they pose a
higher risk of developing many health
conditions, including;
Asthma
Sleep apnea
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High cholesterol
Heart disease Treating Childhood obesity
Stroke
Treating obesity in children and
Certain cancers
adolescents differs from treatment in
Fatty liver
adults. The most important thing you can
do to help your child is to focus on their
Obese children are also faced with the
health, not their weight.
additional risk of;
Some treatments for obesity in children
Bullying
and adolescents include:
Social isolation
Low self-esteem
Diet therapy- Education on how to
Depression
read food labels, cut back on portions,
understand the food pyramid and eat
smaller bites at a smaller pace is
generally the information given to
change a child’s eating habits.
Physical activity- Education on how
to read food labels, cut back on
portions, understand the food
pyramid and eat smaller bites at a
smaller pace is generally the
Causes of Obesity in children information given to change a child’s
eating habits.
Although the causes of childhood obesity
are widespread, some factors that are
targeted as major contributors to this Behavior Modification- changing
eating habits, increasing physical
epidemic are;
Environment activity, becoming educated about the
body and how to nourish it
Lack of physical activity
Family and Genetics appropriately, engaging in a support
group or extracurricular activity and
Dietary Patterns
Socioeconomic status setting realistic weight management
goals.