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Review
. 2023 Jul 17;10(7):1230.
doi: 10.3390/children10071230.

Lifestyle and Pharmacological Interventions and Treatment Indications for the Management of Obesity in Children and Adolescents

Despina Herouvi  1 , George Paltoglou  1 , Alexandra Soldatou  1 , Christina Kalpia  1 , Spyridon Karanasios  1 , Kyriaki Karavanaki  1
Affiliations
Review

Lifestyle and Pharmacological Interventions and Treatment Indications for the Management of Obesity in Children and Adolescents

Despina Herouvi et al. Children (Basel). .

Abstract

Obesity is a multifactorial chronic impairment that further decreases quality of life and life expectancy. Worldwide, childhood obesity has become a pandemic health issue causing several comorbidities that frequently present already in childhood, including cardiovascular (hypertension, dyslipidemia), metabolic (Type 2 diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome), respiratory, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal disorders. In addition, obese children frequently experience stress and psychosocial symptoms, including mood disorders, anxiety, prejudice and low self-esteem. Given that cardiovascular risk factors and pediatric obesity have the tendency to pertain into adulthood, obesity management, including weight control and physical activity, should start before the late teens and certainly before the first signs of atherosclerosis can be detected. This review aims to concisely present options for childhood obesity management, including lifestyle modification strategies and pharmacological treatment, as well as the respective treatment indications for the general practitioner.

Keywords: adolescents; childhood obesity; children; lifestyle; pharmacotherapy; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Clinical algorithm for childhood obesity treatment [19,24].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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