Childhood obesity

Abstract

More effort should be invested in preventing obesity than is currently practiced, because prevention is much more successful than treatment, in either children or adults. Most obese children or adults. Most obese children have exogenous obesity, which is caused by increased caloric intake, reduced energy output, or overly efficient calorie utilization. These children are often tall for their age and have advanced bone age. Obesity in childhood is strongly associated with obesity in adulthood. The relationship between infantile obesity and obesity in childhood is less clear. Preventive measures in infants may include promotion of breastfeeding and delay in introduction of solid foods. Treatment in children includes abolition of junk foods and reduction in saturated fat in the diet and encouragement of regular physical exercise.