According to a recent study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, the prevalence of obesity increased by 10% for all US children from 2003 to 2007, increasing 18% for girls. At my practice, Medical Specialists & Child Life Center, we have found that the fundamental cause of the rise in obesity is that energy intake exceeds energy expenditure. Early detection in the pediatric population can have a great impact on prevention.
In order to confront the problem of pediatric obesity, an innovative pediatric weight management program has been created by the pediatric specialists of Medical Specialists & Child Life Center to address the issues of adolescent type 2 diabetes and obesity by incorporating exercise, education and empowerment tools. An important component of the program is to work with the children and create an individualized plan for each participant.
All children between ages 6 and 18 are screened for obesity. Doctors measure a child’s height and weight to calculate body mass index (BMI), and then compare that to other children. If the BMI of the child is greater than the 95th percentile for their gender and age the child is considered obese and is referred to the weight management program.
Keys to the weight management program include:
• Promotion of healthy eating habits
• Regular physical activity
• Limitation of television and video games
• Monitoring of obesity-associated diseases such as diabetes and breathing disorders.
The team of experienced physicians, nurse practitioners, dietitians and family psychologists at Medical Specialists & Child Life Center is committed to providing state-of-the-art healthcare for all Indiana children, including those with weight issues.
Dr. Clark Kramer and the Medical Specialists Centers of Indiana serves the health needs of men, women and children with a full range of services including allergy and asthma treatment, endocrinology, infectious disease treatment, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopedics, pediatrics, physical therapy, podiatry, pulmonary medicine, rheumatology, sleep diagnostics, wound care and skin care in Indiana.
Article Source: Medical Specialists & Child Life Center: Pediatric Weight Management Program
