The results of a five-year activity of Children Obesity Research Outpatient Department, Children Policlinic, Teaching Hospital Motol and 2nd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague

Overview

The authors evaluated the data of 228 children (age 3.2 to 18 years) with overweight and obesity, who have been subject to complex examination and further followed in the obesity research outpatients’, Children Policlinic, Teaching Hospital Motol and 2nd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague. Based on a unified protocol and under a team collaboration the authors performed a cognitive-behavior therapy with the patient and the whole family. The psychosocial problems were evaluated as well as the general health state of the children in relation to the severity of obesity and the reached results in body mass reduction.

Only 29% of the observed children were in an agreeable state of mind, 32% of children expressed signs of ADHD syndrome and specific learning disorders, 29% of children displayed signs of uncertainty or even anxiety. Health complications occurred in 37.5% of children with first grade obesity, 47.2% of children had already the obesity associated with complex metabolic changes, which has to be treated. The evaluation of body mass reduction was assessed in connection with a natural decrease in the patients during the period of observation. In children observed for the period of two years it has become possible to decrease body may by -0.8 SD BMI on the average.

The results made it clear that prevention is the simplest and most efficient therapy of children obesity. However, it is necessary to evaluated the health risk of developing obesity in time together with the observation within the framework of the concept of children obesity research.

Key words:
children with overweight and obesity, health complications, cognitive-behavioral therapy, children obesity prevention