Childhood obesity: the guideline for primary care should form part of a whole-system approach

Obesity is a global problem as it threatens the public health and remains the causative factor for insulin related disorders. Childhood obesity could be the result of maternal obesity resulting in macrosomia and insulin resistance.

Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Childhood obesity can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression. One of the best strategies to reduce childhood obesity is to improve the diet and exercise habits of your entire family. Treating and preventing childhood obesity helps protect the health of your child now and in the future. Family physician plays an important role in considering child's history of growth and development, family's weight-for-height history, and where the child lands on the growth charts. This can help determine if child's weight is in an unhealthy range Lifestyle issues -- too little activity and too many calories from food and drinks -- are the main contributors to childhood obesity. But genetic and hormonal factors may also play a role in childhood obesity. Therefore, the role of family physician and lack of it in many countries bring out the importance of primary care family physician in community health including obesity pandemic

Conflict of Interest:

None declared