Treatment
Obesity treatment guidelines
Motivational interviewing
Motivational interviewing is a counseling approach that engages patients or families in treatment by recognizing, identifying, and reinforcing their motivation for change.
Intensive health behavioral and lifestyle treatment
Patients and their families work with a multidisciplinary care team, receiving prompt treatment with ongoing behavior modification, skill building, and counseling change.
Medication
Healthcare providers may offer patients anti-obesity medications, according to indications, risks, and benefits, in addition to health behavior and lifestyle treatment.
Surgery
Patients with severe obesity may be referred for evaluation for surgery by a comprehensive, multidisciplinary metabolic and bariatric surgery center.
Intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment
Intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT) stands out as a comprehensive and valuable approach in addressing childhood obesity. This form of intervention goes beyond traditional treatments by focusing on modifying behaviors and establishing healthier lifestyle habits. Tailored to the unique needs of each child, intensive treatments often involve a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating elements such as nutritional guidance, physical activity plans, and behavioral therapy.
The effectiveness of IHBLT lies in its ability to tackle many of the root causes of obesity, offering personalized strategies that extend beyond a one-size-fits-all solution. By fostering positive behavior changes, promoting healthier dietary choices, and encouraging regular physical activity, IHBLT not only targets the immediate issue of obesity but also lays the foundation for a sustained, long-term healthy lifestyle. It is a comprehensive approach that improves the well-being of children, promotes healthier futures, and reduces the risk of obesity-related complications in adulthood.
Speak with your physician to learn more about IHBLT, how it can benefit yourself, your child, or your family, and how you can get started.
Medication and surgery
While the importance of prevention and options like IHBLT is undeniable, there will still be those for whom the disease of obesity requires medical intervention. This may be in the form of FDA-approved medications or through the use of bariatric (weight loss) surgery, and while these methods have long been used in adult populations, they have also been shown to be safe and effective in adolescents over the age of twelve.2
Currently, there are four FDA-approved weight loss medications for this age group. However, determining which, if any, is appropriate for a child with obesity is a highly individualized decision that should be carefully considered by both a child’s caregiver and physician. In most cases, IHBLT will also accompany the use of medication.
For adolescents who meet certain obesity criteria, bariatric (weight loss) surgery is safe, effective, and is even recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. While caregivers may be naturally concerned, bariatric surgery is similar in safety risk to a minor procedure, such as a gallbladder removal and offers incredible long-term health benefits.
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Citations
- Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics. Hampl SE, Hassink SG, Skinner AC, et al. Clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents with obesity. Pediatrics. 2023;151(2):e2022060640. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-060640
- Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics. Hampl SE, Hassink SG, Skinner AC, et al. Clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents with obesity. Pediatrics. 2023;151(2):e2022060640. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-060640