Obesity is a condition of excessive accumulation of body fat which can cause health problems. A child is called obese if the weight according to TB is at +3 according to the 2006 WHO criteria. The management of obesity is quite difficult and must be carried out immediately with monitoring from a pediatrician. The global obesity rate has increased from 4.2% in 1990 to 6.7% in 2010 and will reach 9.1% in 2020.
Causes of obesity in children
Obesity can occur at all ages from toddlers, teenagers to the elderly. Obesity occurs due to an imbalance between food intake (energy produced) and energy expended. In addition, obesity can also occur due to lack of physical activity, low body metabolism, and low breakdown of certain types of food such as foods that contain lots of fat. Primary/nutritional obesity is the main cause of obesity that occurs due to excess food intake. The rest are in the form of hormonal disorders, syndromes and genes which are known as secondary/non-nutritional obesity.
Symptoms of obesity in children
- Chubby cheeks and double chin
- The neck is short and the skin is dark at the back of the neck
- Belly distended and folded
- In boys the penis looks small and sunken
- Sleep snoring and often wake up at night
- Deposition of fatty tissue in the breast area
- Strechmarks appear on the hips, stomach, buttocks and arms
How to get the ideal body weight back is:
- Adopt a healthy and balanced diet
Using the rules of the traffic light diet can be a smart choice, green food is low calorie and fat food (free consumption), yellow food is low fat food (limited consumption), red food is food with high fat and calories (once a week). . Replace high-calorie snacks with fresh fruit/low-fat yogurt/vegetable salad, etc. Increase your water intake between meals. Parents must be strict in choosing the type and portion of food/drink daily.
- Adequate sleep pattern
Toddlers still have a long sleep time of about 10-12 hours of a deep night's sleep, while children and adolescents need 8-10 hours of a deep night's sleep every day.
- Reduce the use of devices (TV, gadgets, etc.)
Toddlers are not advised to have screen time except for video calls or interactive songs with supervision/accompaniment. Children and adolescents who spend a lot of time playing/watching gadgets are accompanied by snacking on high-calorie and sugar foods that sometimes appear in advertisements.
- Increase physical activity
Fun, regular and varied physical activity can stimulate more optimal growth and development of children and can certainly help overcome excess weight. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children need about 60 minutes of time to exercise each day (not necessarily at one time, it can be accumulated in one day). Look for family activities together so the kids don't get bored easily. Activities such as mountain climbing, swimming, cycling, traditional games in the yard and running in the morning can be an option. Don't forget to warm up, use protection if necessary and always be careful.
- Give dietary goals
Children are given a target diet towards ideal body weight. Try to always give positive praise and encouragement in every child's success. Motivate children to lose weight with a healthy lifestyle.
Those are some important things for parents to be aware of to recognize and treat obesity in children. Treatment of obesity requires good cooperation between parents, children and pediatricians. Consult regularly every month in children aged less than one year and every 3-6 months thereafter so that evaluation of growth and development can be carried out properly.
Article written by dr. Anisa Setiorini, Sp. A (Pediatrician, EMC Sentul Hospital).