Abstract

CARVALHO, Maria Ana; CARMO, Isabel do; BREDA, João  and  RITO, Ana Isabel. Comparative analysis of methods to address childhood obesity. Rev. Port. Sau. Pub. [online]. 2011, vol.29, n.2, pp.148-156. ISSN 0870-9025.

Introduction: Childhood obesity represents one of the most serious public health challenges, as it has reached epidemic levels in several countries around the world. Obese children and adolescents are more likely to be obese in adulthood. In addition, childhood and adolescent obesity has adverse psychological, social and health consequences in childhood and later in life. Thus, the prevention, early identification and treatment of this disease should be a priority for the health sector. Objective: Since there hasn't been determined one single intervention model that can address and tackle childhood obesity, the aim of this review is to identify the key elements frequently used in the most common approaches to address childhood obesity. Material and methods: The review included mostly randomised controlled trials which have been used to emphasise important developments and contributions of intervention programs concerning diet, physical activity and behaviour modification and also in family and community based programmes. Conclusion: The conclusion was that the interventions used within the childhood obesity approach should be family based and should essentially lie upon behaviour modification regarding diet and physical activity. Interventions targeting a variety of population groups can have potent effects on reducing overweight prevalence and reverse trends particularly the one that takes action at community level.

Keywords : Adolescents; Children; Obesity; Overweight; Treatment.

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