Sample Solution

ANAGEMENT
Comprehensive interventions combining diet, physical activity, education, and behavioral therapy are associated with improvement in terms of weight reduction and metabolic outcomes. The Expert Committee on Obesity Evaluation and Treatment recommends that the primary goal should be developing healthy eating and activity habits, not achieving ideal body weight. The environment that shapes behavior of the child should be modified and family influence is the most important factor in childhood obesity treatment. For weight loss, obese children must expend more energy than they consume, by decreasing caloric intake and increasing physical activity. Studies show interventions involving exercise alone did not cause weight loss but when exercise was combined with diet and education, reduction in body weight was noted.
Consumption of fast food in children has increased over the past few years because of the easy availability and media marketing. Fast foods (eg. Pizza, burger, fries, somosa, pakora, potato chips, soft drinks, etc) have high level of fat and sugars that are unhealthy but addictive, making it hard for children to choose healthy food. Nutrition labeling might restrict the quantity and choice of food among children of educated parents. In a recent study conducted on parents of children aged 3-6 years, showed that labeled menus lead to significantly lower calorie content in restaurant meals purchased for children (28).

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests a staged approach to pediatric weight management:
TABLE 9
1. Prevention plus
• Encourage consumption of ≥5 servings of vegetables and fruits daily.