3A-S3-4

RECENT ADVANCES IN THE TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Robert Suskind

FUHS/The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, Illinois

Traditional treatment of obesity, including diet, nutrition education exercise, and behavior modification have Resulted in limited success. On the other hand, research indicates that obese children are better able to maintain weight loss over a long term period. Programs to treat obesity in childhood are not commonly available, and when available, are usually unsuccessful in maintaining weight- loss. With an in the Prevalence of obesity, it is important to develop effective treatment programs that will promote the long-term health benefits associated with achieving ideal body weight (IBW).

The Committed to Kids Pediatric weight Management program has developed over the past 12 years. The one –year, four- phase program is an individualized program conducted in a group setting that is structured to the specific needs of children with varying levels of obesity: mild, moderate and severe. A treatment team consisting of a pediatrician, registered dietician, exercise physiologist and a psychologist meet once per week with obese children and their families to discuss nutrition, exercise and overall health. The children are placed on a structured high protein, low calorie diet, and exercise. In addition, they are provided with nutritional education, fitness education and behavior modification during each weekly session. The approach has short-term success rate of 95% and a one-year success rate of 70-75%. Those who are successful at 1 year maintain the weight loss at 5 years. In the younger children and those with mild obesity at program entry the success rate is even higher.