Treatment of obesity in children

Treatment of obesity in children should pursue the following goal - achieving energy balance between energy consumption and expenditure. The criterion for the effectiveness of treatment of obesity in children is weight loss. A necessary condition for diet therapy in all age groups is the calculation of nutrition by proteins, fats, carbohydrates, as well as calories, with a comparison of actual and recommended consumption.

For children prone to obesity, born with a large body weight or having large weight gains, vegetable purees are introduced as the first complementary food with limited potatoes. When introducing the second and third complementary food, porridge (mainly buckwheat or oatmeal) is given no more than once a day. To improve the taste of instant porridges (without salt and sugar), it is recommended to add apples, pumpkin, carrots (if there are no allergic reactions) and dried fruits. It is advisable to buy ready-made fruit juices and purees without sugar. Less sweet vegetable juices are preferable to fruit juices.

Treatment of obesity in children in the first year of life consists exclusively of diet therapy. Strict adherence to age-appropriate nutritional standards, exclusion of sweets, snacks and sweet drinks are recommended.

Nutrition for children suffering from obesity

The diet of a child over one year old should contain lean meat (beef, veal, rabbit, chicken, hens), cod fish and eggs. Children with excess weight should receive milk and dairy products daily (preferably in the form of fermented milk drinks, such as kefir, preferably low-fat, yogurt), low-fat cottage cheese, cheeses. It is necessary to limit the consumption of milk and dairy products with a high fat content (milk 6% fat, cream, sour cream, some fatty types of cheese). It is advisable to eat vegetables with a low carbohydrate content (cabbage, cucumbers, radishes, lettuce, tomatoes), unsweetened fruits, juices, berries, grain bread and bakery products made from wholemeal flour. It is necessary to limit the consumption of sugar, honey, jam, baked goods, smoked meats, refractory fats.

In the diet of children with excess body weight after 3 years, some restrictions are possible, not affecting the daily needs of the growing body for proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins. The limitation of the amount of fat in the diet depends on the degree of excess body weight of the child (within 15-30%). To reduce appetite and dull the feeling of hunger, flavorings, spices, extractive substances, spicy, smoked and salty snacks are excluded. The consumption of fast food and sweet carbonated drinks is limited as much as possible.

The nutritional principles for schoolchildren suffering from excess weight are the same as for preschool children. Elimination diets are not recommended, as they deprive the child of nutrients necessary for optimal growth and development. Children need to engage in some kind of sport associated with active movements: swimming, skiing, etc. With a high degree of obesity, therapeutic physical training is necessary.

Diet therapy for adolescents is based on the awareness of its necessity and lifestyle changes while maintaining adequate intake of essential nutrients. Aggressive and harsh methods of influence associated with intense physical exercise or strict diet should not be used, and lifestyle changes require the mandatory active participation of parents.

Teaching self-control skills encourages children to set their own goals regarding eating patterns (control over the amount and composition of food they eat, as well as who they eat with), body weight, and exercise.

In adolescence, a 1500 kcal (i.e. 12 carbohydrate units - CU) meal plan can be offered, modified depending on the individual characteristics of the patient and the goals of treatment.