Obesity

Introduction

Children can rapidly gain weight due to several environmental, medical or physiological reasons. Since there are many possible triggers, it's best to speak with a paediatrician about the symptoms, what a healthy weight is for your child and how to move forward.

You can be rest assured that at Skooc, you and your family are in good hands. 

Symptoms

Abnormal weight gain can occur due to several medical conditions, side effects of medication, or physical and lifestyle changes.

Medical conditions

• Asthma and allergies

• Cushing syndrome – the body produces too much of the hormone cortisol

• Depression

• Growth hormone (GH) deficiency 

• Hypothyroidism – With this condition, the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of thyroid hormone. This can affect a child's metabolism and lead to weight gain. 

• Insulinoma – when a pancreatic tumour produces excessive amounts of insulin. 

• Leptin resistance – when the brain no longer recognizes the leptin's function and thinks the body is starving.

• Prader-Willi syndrome – a genetic disorder that causes constant hunger 

Side effects of medication

• Antidepressants 

• Antihistamines 

• Anti-seizure medications 

• Oral steroids 

Physical and lifestyle changes

• Activity levels – drastic decrease in activity levels while there is an increase in food consumption. 

• Gut health – needs the appropriate balance of microbes (gut flora) 

• Puberty – Increased hormones in a child's body during puberty (between the ages of 10 and 14 for girls and between the ages of 12 and 16 for boys) leads to growth and possible expansion of "baby fat" areas. This typically takes place in girls' belly, breast area and hips. Boys' shoulders will get broader.

If you notice recurring instances of a few of these symptoms in your child, we at Skooc recommend a formal evaluation. 

Diagnosis

At Skooc, we help you better understand what your child is going through. As part of regular well-child care, the doctor calculates your child's BMI and determines where it falls on the BMI-for-age growth chart. The BMI helps indicate if your child is overweight for his or her age and height.

Because BMI doesn't consider things such as being muscular or having a larger than average body frame and because growth patterns vary greatly among children, your doctor also factors in your child's growth and development. This helps determine whether your child's weight is a health concern.

In addition to BMI and charting weight on the growth charts, the doctor evaluates:

• Your family's history of obesity and weight-related health problems, such as diabetes

• Your child's eating habits

• Your child's activity level

• Other health conditions your child has

• Psychosocial history, including incidences of depression, sleep disturbances, and sadness and whether your child feels isolated or alone or is the target of bullying

• Blood tests (may include a cholesterol test or a blood sugar test) which check for hormone imbalances or other conditions associated with obesity

Click here to take an assessment.

Next Steps and Intervention

Our team of professional psychologists at Skooc can help you and your child by providing the necessary interventions. Treatment for childhood obesity is based on your child's age and whether he or she has other medical conditions. Treatment usually includes changes in your child's eating habits and physical activity level. 

Healthy eating

Parents are the ones who buy groceries, cook meals and decide where the food is eaten. Even small changes can make a big difference in your child's health.

• Prioritize fruits and vegetables. 

• Limit sweetened beverages. 

• Avoid fast food. 

• Sit down together for family meals

• Discourage eating in front of a TV, computer or video game screen, 

• Serve appropriate portion sizes. 

Physical activity

A critical part of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, especially for children, is physical activity. It burns calories, strengthens bones and muscles, and helps children sleep well at night and stay alert during the day.

• To increase your child's activity level:

• Limit TV time. 

• Emphasize activity, not exercise - the objective is to get him or her moving. 

• Find activities your child likes. ,