Childhood Obesity: Diagnostic Criteria and Early Intervention Strategies

There has been a significant rise in the prevalence of obesity in children in India. As per the World Obesity Atlas 2024, there were 33 million children living with obesity in 2020. With an estimated annual growth rate of 6.2%, this number is projected to surge to 83 million by 2035.

This growing trend highlights the urgent need for increased awareness, proper management, and lifestyle changes to curb the growing childhood obesity rise.

This article explains what childhood obesity is, how it’s diagnosed, and some early intervention strategies to manage it effectively.

What is Childhood Obesity?

Childhood obesity is a chronic condition marked by the accumulation of excess body fat at a young age, often leading to serious long-term health risks. These health risks may include Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, joint pain, heart diseases, and certain types of cancers.

Children usually become obese when they eat more than what their body needs. The extra calories are stored as fat for energy, which further increases due to more overeating.

What are the Causes of Childhood Obesity?

There can be varied causes of childhood obesity, such as:

• Diet: Consumption of high-calorie diets rich in sugary beverages, processed snacks, and fast food.
• Sedentary lifestyle: Limited physical activity, often due to excessive screen time through television, video games, and mobile devices.
• Genetics: A family history of obesity, especially when parents or siblings are affected.
• Environmental factors: Shared household routines such as frequent eating out, excessive snacking, lack of physical activity, and poor sleep hygiene
• Cultural factors: Exposure to advertisements for unhealthy food products on television and online targeted at children.
• Certain diseases: Medical conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome, hypothyroidism, and genetic disorders like Prader-Willi syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, and Alstrom syndrome.

What are the Symptoms of Childhood Obesity?

Not every child with extra weight can be considered obese. Physical weight is not always an accurate indicator of obesity. Children can carry different amounts of body fat in different stages of their life. Some common symptoms of childhood obesity include:

• Stretch marks on back and hips
• Shortness of breath when doing physical activities
• Trouble in sleeping
• Pain in knees, ankles, or hips
• Poor physical strength

How is Childhood Obesity Diagnosed?

Healthcare providers typically use BMI for kids to determine if they are obese or not. Body Mass Index is an age- and sex-specific index that uses the height and weight of the child to assess their obesity level.

The BMI is compared with the BMI of other children of the same age with the help of a standard growth chart. This gives the child’s BMI percentile. For instance, if the BMI percentile is 90, it means the child has a higher BMI than 90% of other children of the same sex and age. A BMI percentile of 95 and above is typically associated with obesity in children.

Along with BMI, the health care provider will also perform a physical exam, assess the family history for obesity and other medical conditions, inquire about the child’s eating habits, physical activity level, and screen time, and look at the child’s blood pressure and mental health history for diagnostic evaluation of obesity.

The obesity test can also include a cholesterol, liver, and hormone-level test to look for other obesity-related conditions.

How to Manage Obesity in Children?

Obesity is largely manageable by making some lifestyle changes. For management of obesity, parents must ensure the following:

• Balanced diet: Provide nutritious meals rich in fruits, proteins, whole grains, and vegetables, and limit processed and high-sugar foods.
• Regular physical activity: Encourage the child to do physical activity daily, including walking, playing outside, or doing sports.
• Screen time limits: Restrict screen time to no more than 1-2 hours daily to reduce sedentary behaviour.
• Healthy snacking: Replace chips, cookies, and sugary snacks with healthier options like fruits, nuts, or yoghurt.
• Sleep schedule: Ensure the child gets proper sleep, as sleep deprivation can affect hunger hormones and increase the risk of obesity.
• Involvement of the whole family: Make healthy lifestyle changes a family effort so the child feels supported and not singled out.
• Awareness: Help children understand the value of nutrition and activity without making them feel guilty about their weight.

Childhood obesity disease has emerged as a serious health concern. If left unmanaged, it can lead to severe complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases. It is important for parents to take proactive steps to support their child’s health and well-being.

If parents notice symptoms of obesity in their child, they must consult a healthcare provider and book an obesity panel test with Dr Lal PathLabs app for correct diagnosis.

To learn more, download the Dr Lal PathLabs apps now.

FAQs

1. How to determine obesity in children?
   To assess obesity in children, doctors mostly use the Body Mass Index. A BMI percentile of 95 or above is usually linked to obesity.
2. How to reduce obesity in children?
   To prevent obesity in children, it’s essential to encourage healthy eating habits, ensure regular physical activity, and limit screen time.