Obesity in Children

There are a number of different things that can cause obesity in children. Possible causes of obesity include:

eating a poor diet, for example too many high-fat and sugary foods

inactivity, for example, not doing enough exercise and spending too much time watching television or in front of a computer

genetic (inherited) conditions, though these are rare

not being breastfed

If you're obese, then your children are more likely to be obese. This may happen because you share the same eating or activity habits, or a combination of both.

The number of overweight and obese children in the UK has increased over the past 30 years. In 2006, around one in six children aged between two and 15 were obese.

Obesity can also affect your child's emotional and mental health. He or she may have low confidence or self-esteem, and being obese can also lead to eating problems, such as bulimia, and depression.

Special charts, called centile charts, have been developed to show whether children are under or overweight for their age. Your GP or nurse will use these charts to assess your child.

There are a number of different treatments for obesity in children. However, no treatment will work on its own. You will need to make changes to the foods you and your child eat and the activities you do, as well as changing some of the behaviour of the whole family.

Your GP may ask you to help your child to lose weight, but it's more likely that your GP will recommend that you help to maintain your child's weight. So, as your child grows taller, his or her BMI improves and the weight stays the same.

It's important to make changes that the whole family can do, rather than asking your child to have a separate diet or to start 'dieting'. This may mean changes to mealtimes and snacking habits, or starting activities that the whole family can do together. Lifestyle changes work best for your child when they are long-term, permanent changes.

Setting goals and giving rewards and praise. You and your child should be aiming to make long-term changes to the foods you eat and the activities you do, so that your child will be able to manage his and her weight when they become an adult. However, choosing some short-term goals to reach may help you to focus and succeed. Give your child praise and rewards for their success, but make sure these aren't food-related. Instead try giving them a small gift or do an activity they enjoy.

Get active. Children need to do between 60 and 120 minutes (one to two hours) of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity every day. This can be one session of activity or a number of sessions of 10 minutes or more. Try building activity into everyday life, such as walking or cycling to school or playing with other children. Do activities together as a family, for example, going to the park and playing football. Help your child to choose more structured activities that they enjoy, for example dancing or swimming.

Cut down on inactive pastimes. Reduce the amount of time your child spends watching television or using a computer. Try to limit this to less than two hours a day or 14 hours a week.

Eat healthily. Your doctor or nurse may ask you to keep a record of the food and drink that you and your child have. Based on what your child is eating, what he or she likes and dislikes and how old your child is, your doctor or nurse may create a healthy eating plan. This can be made up of healthy foods which give your child less energy each day than they are using in their day-to-day activities. This is likely to mean cutting down on foods that have a lot of sugar or fat in them and eating more fruit and vegetables and low-fat foods.

Involve the whole family. It's important to get everyone to eat healthily and become more active so that your child doesn't feel that they have been singled out. If you're overweight, you should lose weight with your child. Look at how you eat as a family, try and sit down together for meals and set a good example with the foods you eat and the activities you do.

A medicine called orlistat can sometimes be used to help older children lose weight. However, it is used very rarely. Orlistat is only to be given to your child if he or she is over the age of 12, is very obese and has other health problems because of their weight.

There are operations available that can help older children to lose excess weight. Surgery will only be suggested if other treatments haven't worked; if your child has been through puberty; if he or she is very obese; and if they have other health problems. Weight-loss surgery for children is rare.

Obesity in children is caused by many different things, some of which are difficult to change. For example, there is a greater choice of food available in our shops, and computers and television play a bigger part in many people's lives than they did in the past. However, you can make a difference to the food your child eats every day and how active they are.

If you're worried that your child is becoming overweight, you can make long-term changes to your child's diet and eating habits, while increasing the amount of activity he or she does. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends the following.

Include starchy foods in meals such as potatoes, bread, rice and pasta, choosing wholegrain where possible.

Eat plenty of fibre-rich foods, such as oats, beans, grains, fruit and vegetables, wholegrain bread, and brown rice and pasta.

Eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day.

Eat a low-fat diet and don't increase your fat and/or calorie intake.

Eat as little as possible of fried foods, sweets which are high in added sugars and fat and high-fat foods such as take-away meals or fast food.

Reduce the amount of sugary drinks you have, including fruit juices with added sugar, and drink more water.

Watch the portion size of meals and snacks, and how often you're eating.

Eat regular meals, including breakfast, in a pleasant, sociable environment without distractions.

You should eat with your child and make sure that everyone is eating the same food.

Make enjoyable activities - walking, cycling, swimming and gardening - part of everyday life.

Minimise sedentary activities, such as sitting for long periods watching television, at a computer or playing video games.

Encourage active play, for example dancing and skipping.

Be more active as a family, for example walking and cycling to school and the shops, going to the park or swimming.

Encourage your child to participate in sports or other active recreation, and make the most of opportunities for exercise at school.

Never put your child on a weight-loss diet without getting advice, as this can affect his or her growth. Talk to your GP or a dietitian if you're concerned about your child's weight.

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