Treatment of obesity in children

Treatment of obesity in children should pursue such an objective - the achievement of an energy balance between energy consumption and its consumption. The criterion for the effectiveness of treatment of obesity in children is a decrease in body weight. A prerequisite for dietary therapy in all age groups is the calculation of nutrition for proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and also for calories, comparing the actual and recommended intake.

Children prone to obesity, born with a large body weight or having large weight gain, are introduced as the first complementary vegetable mashed potatoes with potato restriction. With the introduction of the second and third complementary foods, porridge (mostly buckwheat or oatmeal) is given no more than once a day. To improve the taste of soluble cereals (without salt and sugar) it is recommended to add apples, pumpkin, carrots (in the absence of allergic reactions) and dried fruits. Ready fruit juices and mashed potatoes should be purchased without sugar. Less sweet vegetable juices are preferable to fruit juices.

Treatment of obesity in children of the first year of life consists exclusively in diet therapy. Recommended strict adherence to age norms of nutrition, the exclusion of sweet, "snacks" and sweet drinks.

Nutrition of obese children

A child's diet older than a year should contain low-fat meat (beef, veal, rabbit, chicken, chickens), codfish and eggs. Children with excessive body weight should receive milk and dairy products on a daily basis (preferably in the form of fermented milk, for example kefir, better reduced fat, curdled milk), low-fat cottage cheese, cheeses. It is necessary to limit the consumption of milk and dairy products with high fat content (milk 6% fat, cream, sour cream, some fat cheese varieties). It is advisable to eat vegetables with low carbohydrate content (cabbage, cucumbers, radish, lettuce, tomatoes), unsweetened fruits, juices, berries, cereal bread and baked goods from wholemeal flour. It is necessary to limit the use of sugar, honey, jam, baking, smoked products, refractory fats.

In the diet of overweight children after 3 years, some restrictions are possible that do not affect the daily needs of the growing organism in proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins. The restriction of the amount of fat in the diet depends on the degree of overweight of the child (within 15-30%). To reduce appetite and dull feelings of hunger, taste flavors, spices, extractives, sharp, smoked and salty snacks are excluded. Maximum limit the use of fast food and sweet fizzy drinks.

The principle of nutrition of schoolchildren suffering from excessive body weight is the same as in pre-school children. Observations of elimination diets are not recommended, since the child is deprived of the 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, physical exercises are necessary.

Dietotherapy in adolescents is based on the realization of its necessity and lifestyle changes while observing adequate intake of essential nutrients into the body. Do not use aggressive and harsh methods of exposure associated with strenuous exercise or a strict diet, and lifestyle changes require the active participation of parents.

Training in self-management skills encourages children to set their own goals for the diet (control over the amount and composition of food intake, as well as those who share meals with them), body weight and exercise.

In adolescence, you can offer a nutrition plan for 1500 kcal (that is, 12 carbohydrate units - UE), which varies depending on the individual characteristics of the patient and the treatment goals.