Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword by David W. Haslam
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Introduction
- 2 How fat is fat? Measuring and defining overweight and obesity
- 3 Where should overweight/obese children be managed?
- 4 How do we approach the overweight/obese child and family?
- 5 The clinical assessment: what are the special points?
- 6 What complications should we look for now and later?
- 7 How does psychology influence management?
- 8 Management: what do we mean by lifestyle changes?
- 9 How can we reduce energy intake?
- 10 How can we increase energy expenditure?
- 11 What else can be done?
- 12 How can we sustain healthy weight management?
- 13 What can we do to prevent childhood overweight and obesity?
- References
- Index
8 - Management: what do we mean by lifestyle changes?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 August 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword by David W. Haslam
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Introduction
- 2 How fat is fat? Measuring and defining overweight and obesity
- 3 Where should overweight/obese children be managed?
- 4 How do we approach the overweight/obese child and family?
- 5 The clinical assessment: what are the special points?
- 6 What complications should we look for now and later?
- 7 How does psychology influence management?
- 8 Management: what do we mean by lifestyle changes?
- 9 How can we reduce energy intake?
- 10 How can we increase energy expenditure?
- 11 What else can be done?
- 12 How can we sustain healthy weight management?
- 13 What can we do to prevent childhood overweight and obesity?
- References
- Index
Summary
In simple terms control of overweight and obesity requires a sustained period of energy expenditure exceeding energy intake. Overweight individuals' dietary intakes and activity levels have to change. However, overweight and obesity arise because energy balance has been influenced by the environment – family and community – in which the obese live. Without changes in these environments, weight control is unlikely to be sustained for long. Thus, almost inevitably, successful weight control involves behavioural changes for the family as well as for the overweight child. Further, since evidence suggests that ‘healthier’ lifestyles can reduce morbidity risks for the overweight/obese even without significant change in weight status, the prime aim of management should be to develop healthier behaviours. Appropriate weight controlling strategies can then be incorporated into these (Avenell et al. 2006).
If we consider programmes which aim to control overweight and obesity in children, some are impressively successful. Others are not. Overall, obesity management programmes have a reputation for disappointing outcomes. The fault may not always lie in the programme itself but in the way in which it is implemented (or not implemented).
Table 8.1 suggests some reasons why well-planned schemes may appear to have little effect on childhood overweight. There is no consensus on how or where overweight and obesity in childhood (or even in adult life) should be managed (Chapter 3).
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Management of Childhood Obesity , pp. 96 - 107Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008