Obesity in Teenagers
The psychological impact of obesity during the teenage years can have significant effects on both girls and boys. Teenage & Adolescence plays a critical period of development in a child’s life , & the presence of obesity has seen to trigger various psychological aspects
What are the Mental Health Challenges:
Obesity in teenagers can contribute to mental health issues such as
depression, anxiety, and stress. These conditions might arise due to
body image concerns, social pressures, or the struggle to meet
societal ideals and expectations
Obese teenagers may experience a
reduced quality of life due to limitations in physical activities,
potential health issues, and the emotional impact of obesity. This
can affect their overall impacts their happiness and well-being.
There might be a correlation between
obesity and academic performance. Psychological stress related to
body image concerns or social challenges could potentially impact a
teenager’s focus, engagement, and performance in school.
Some
obese teenagers might develop unhealthy relationships with food,
leading to the development of eating disorders, binge eating, or
other disordered eating patterns as a coping mechanism.
The psychological impact of
obesity during the teenage years can have lasting effects can
manifest into Low self esteem, irregular periods in girls PCO,
Hirsutism, Body Image issues, or get bullied and all these may spill
in their adulthood if not addressed. It can influence their
personality, relationships, and emotional well-being in later stages
of life.
The way you may go about it at Ankoor clinic is an holistic approach by
seeking
Seeking professional help from healthcare
providers, dieticians counselors, or therapists specialized in
adolescent mental health and obesity can provide valuable support
and guidance.
Encouraging and supporting healthy
lifestyle choices involving nutritious eating habits, regular physical
activity, and a positive body image culture can be immensely
beneficial.
Educating teenagers about body
positivity, self-acceptance, and the importance of overall health
over appearance can help mitigate the negative impact of societal
pressures
ADOLESCENT OBESITY, EVALUATION WITH MANAGEMENT
IN ACUSLIM WELLNESS CLINIC,
WE TAKE A HISTORY WITH A CHILD/ TEENAGER AND PARENTS PERMISSION TO START THE CONVESATION TO ASSESS THE LIFESTYLE AND TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION.
WE TAKE HEIGHT, WEIGHT AND VITAL PARAMETERS AND BMI OF THE PATIENT.
A PROPER ASSESSMENT OF BODYTYPE IS DONE.
Children and adolescents living with overweight or obesity, is one of the most common reasons that they are teased or bullied at school. Weight-based teasing in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity may contribute to academic failure, peer rejection, negative emotional consequences and the risk of depression and low self-esteem.
Depending on the child’s family history, taking waist circumference measurements is recommended to be used to determine obesity related health risk, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.24–26 A waist-to-height ratio of ≥0.5 may be useful in predicting cardiovascular risk. However, waist circumference is not recommended as a routine measure.
WE SET REALISTIC AND ATTAINABLE GOALS FOR A CHILD BY EDUCATING IN SCIENTIFIC WAYS TO MAKE IT SIMPLIFIED AND ACCEPTED EASILY.
1. CLINICAL GOALS:
The treatment approach chosen will impact the extent of weight loss, and thus help to determine clinical goals.
2. LIFESTYLE GOALS :
Family habits and food preferences have also been associated with the increase of cases of childhood obesity. When treating children with obesity it is recommended to implement lifestyle modifications that include family involvement in order to achieve significant effect on obesity.
BMI decrease of 1.5 kg/m2 may seem small, but if maintained for the long term with lifestyle modification, children and adolescents with overweight or obesity may benefit as they grow by reducing fat mass and increasing lean body mass. 7% weight loss may be a more realistic goal for adolescents with severe obesity (BMI ≥35 kg/m2 ) .
DIET
ADVICE WHAT TO EAT AND WHAT TO AVOID IS VERY IMPORTANT.
Ensure that you address both the quantity and quality of food.
1 .DECREASE PORTION SIZE, CHEW SLOWLY SO NO OTHER ACTIVITY DONE WHILE EATING.
2.eat more fruits and vegetables , avoid sweet beverages, make sure to cosume proteins in every meal.
3.avoid processed / packed / frozen food. Eat home made healthy options.
ENOUGH NIGHT SLEEP
Healthy sleep patterns in children can decrease the likelihood of developing obesity due to changes in calorie intake and metabolism related to disordered sleep.
PHARMACOTHERAPY :
Tailored clinical intervention, combined with lifestyle interventions should be considered for adolescents with a high BMI percentile and at least one significant obesity-related complication( BY CONFIRMING WITH INVESTIGATIONS ).
Anti-obesity medications may play a role in weight management for adolescents and young adults with obesity and should be considered an important component of a multimodal approach to managing obesity.
BARIATRIC SURGERY :
Bariatric surgery can be considered as a treatment option for adolescents with severe obesity, those with a BMI ≥140% of 95th percentile for age and sex or BMI ≥120% of 95th percentile with at least one significant obesity-related complication.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF TREATMENT IS REGULAR FOLLOW UP
TO MOTIVATE, MODIFY IF REQUIRED FOR MAINTENANCE AND TO ASSESS THE PROGRESS.