Treatment/ Behavior Modification:
For overweight children:
For obese children:
Healthy eating:
Physical activity:
Medications:
For overweight children:
- Weight maintenance allowing the child to increase in height but not pounds. BMI-for-age will drop over time into a healthier range.
For obese children:
- Weight loss for children younger than 6 who have obesity-related health concerns; 2 pounds/week to 1 pound/month
Healthy eating:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Limited sweetened beverages
- Sit down together as a family for meals
- Discourage eating in front of a screen
- Limit eating out; fast-food restaurants
- Serve appropriate portion sizes
Physical activity:
- Exercise at least 30 minutes every day
Medications:
- Orlistat (Xenical). Orlistat, which is a prescription medication approved for adolescents older than 12, prevents the absorption of fat in the intestines. Prescription medication isn't often recommended for adolescents. Talk to your pediatrician.