Behavioural and environmental factors are primarily responsible for the dramatic increase in obesity in the past 20 years. Calculating body mass index is the most widely accepted method of screening for obesity in children. Abnormal body mass index cut-offs in children are determined by age- and gender-specific percentiles. The dramatic increase in childhood obesity has led to a marked increase in the diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus in children. Obesity is difficult to treat at all ages, and obese children tend to become obese adults. The mainstay of treatment is lifestyle modification to improve diet and increase physical activity. Pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery may be considered as an adjunct to lifestyle modification in morbidly obese adolescents.
Keywords: obesity, childhood