Pediatric Weight Management Program
The alarming rise in obesity among children is a call to action for our culture and our pediatric specialists. At Medical Specialists Department of Pediatrics, the focus is on early detection and intervention, with a multi-faceted program customized to each child's individual needs.
According to a recent study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, the prevalence of obesity increased by 10% for all US children from 2003 to 2007, increasing 18% for girls. We have found that the fundamental cause of the rise in obesity is that energy intake exceeds energy expenditure. Early detection in the pediatric population can have a great impact on prevention.
In order to confront the problem of pediatric obesity, an innovative pediatric weight management program has been created by the pediatric specialists at the Merrillville office of Medical Specialists to address the issues of adolescent type 2 diabetes and obesity by incorporating exercise, education and empowerment tools. An important component of the program is to work with the children and create an individualized plan for each participant.
All children between ages 6 and 18 are screened for obesity. Doctors measure a child's height and weight to calculate body mass index (BMI), and then compare that to other children. If the BMI of the child is greater than the 95th percentile for their gender and age the child is considered obese and is referred to the weight management program.
Keys to the weight management program include:
• Promotion of healthy eating habits
• Regular physical activity
• Limitation of television and video games
• Monitoring of obesity-associated diseases such as diabetes and breathing disorders.
The team of experienced physicians, nurse practitioners, dietitians and family psychologists at Medical Specialists is committed to providing state-of-the-art healthcare for all Indiana children, including those with weight issues. For more information on the pediatric weight management program, call Medical Specialists at 219-736-1400.
