Description

Wijga et al identified a number of comorbidities that may affect an obese child of school age. Such a child requires more aggressive clinical management and would benefit from weight loss strategies. The authors are from the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Utrecht University, Erasmus Medical Center, University of Groningen, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital and Beatrix Children's Hospital in The Netherlands.


 

Patient selection: obese child 8 years old with BMI >= 30 kg per square meter

 

Impact of obesity:

(1) lower general health status

(2) higher healthcare utilization (visits to primary care, etc)

(3) higher school absenteeism

(4) higher risk for bronchitis and other respiratory disorders

(5) higher use of antibiotics

(6) greater risk of various infections (ear, throat, cold, etc, not statistically significant)

(7) functional impairment due to health-related factors

 

An obese child is at greater risk for disease when an adult.

 

Conditions not included in the paper that would affect an obese child:

(1) obstructive sleep apnea

(2) type 2 diabetes and pediatric non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (metabolic syndrome)

(3) risk of colonization and infection with an antibiotic-resistant bacteria

(4) reduced sports participation

(5) poor self-image

 


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