One out of three teenagers deals with excess weight or obesity.
This is not an issue connected only to appearance and self confidence.
Obesity is a real disease that can cause complications already at a young age. Here are seven facts that are important to know about treating obesity in teenagers.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, one out of three children and adolescents deals with excess weight.
This is not only an aesthetic matter or a social problem but a medical condition expressed in different complications that can accompany teenagers later in their lives.
Therefore it is important to treat in a sensitive and professional way.
This way we can significantly improve the quality of life of teenagers and improve their health also in the long term.
So what should you know. Here are facts that are important to pay attention to.
It is not the teenagers fault
Obesity is not a phenomenon that comes from personal choices and willpower of teenagers and not from a failure of their parents.
Obesity is a chronic disease caused by a combination of genetic, physiological, socioeconomic and environmental factors.
There are different biological mechanisms in children and teenagers with obesity that explain why they feel more hungry.
When comparing teenagers with obesity to teenagers with normal weight it can be seen that they have a higher amount of the enzyme called DPP4 and therefore they have a smaller amount of GLP 1, a hormone with an important role in regulating hunger and fullness.
The meaning is that the mechanism of regulating hunger and fullness is impaired.
In rare cases the background for obesity in teenagers may be a genetic disease or different endocrine conditions but in most cases there is no endocrine reason for obesity and it comes from a combination of genetics and environment.
It is not a matter of appearance
Obesity harms quality of life and can harm the health of the teenager.
In recent decades the rate of teenagers diagnosed with obesity complications such as high blood pressure, high blood fats, fatty liver and disruption in sugar balance that can reach type 2 diabetes has increased.
Teenagers with obesity are also at higher risk of suffering from joint pain, early puberty, polycystic ovary syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.
Obesity can also cause emotional and social difficulties.
Studies show that children and teenagers with excess weight and obesity suffer from social bullying at much higher rates compared to their peers with normal weight.
It is important to start early
Obesity is a chronic disease and it is known that 80 percent to 85 percent of children and teenagers with obesity are expected to suffer from obesity as adults. This puts them at higher risk for complications connected to obesity and for early death.
At a young age, before adolescence, there is a window of opportunity that can change the picture. If we solve the obesity of a patient at a young age it will make him as an adult similar to someone who never suffered from obesity in terms of risk for complications.
The younger we begin the more control parents have and the earlier we begin intervention, even at the stage of excess weight, the higher the chances of success.
The change must come from them
It is important not to be judgmental, not to scare, not to threaten and not to pressure the child to come to treatment.
The desire for change must come from them.
To create desire for change and cooperation you need to create motivation.
To create motivation the conversation needs to focus mainly on quality of life.
At the first stage there is no need to set big goals and not even goals of weight loss.
It is enough to aim to stay at the same weight because the child will grow taller and the BMI will drop. A feeling of success will give confidence and a lot of motivation to continue.
There is what to do
Treatment options for childhood obesity have expanded recently with the approval of new medications from the GLP 1 group that help regulate the mechanisms of hunger and fullness.
The treatments are approved for teenagers aged twelve and older with obesity when the BMI is at the 95th percentile and above.
Medication treatment brings very good results in terms of effectiveness and safety when it is accompanied by lifestyle changes including physical activity and nutritional changes, an emotional evaluation before beginning and emotional support individually or for the family if needed and medical follow up.
Multisystem treatment is required
Treating obesity requires a multidisciplinary team that includes alongside a pediatric endocrinologist or a pediatric physician who specializes in obesity, also nutrition experts, sports physicians and emotional therapists.
Beyond the importance of multidisciplinary treatment, within the team there are different people. This allows the teenager to find a figure they connect with and from there make a path tailored to them like a suit sewn for them, with that therapist being a supportive and leading arm while the other therapists surround them.
In recent years different health organizations have developed treatment programs for children and teenagers with obesity that include multidisciplinary treatment with nutritional consultation and adapted physical activity, emotional support and sometimes also family therapy.
It is a family journey
Teenagers are part of a family unit and a critical component for success is family support and the willingness to go together on this journey.
Family involvement includes first of all reinforcement and support.
It is important to avoid criticism or comments about weight, to focus on health and quality of life and to celebrate successes.