Treatment for Pediatric Obesity

Long-term, effective treatments for pediatric obesity are limited. Prevention is the most important effort that can be made to help a child who struggles with weight issues. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement,¹ increases in the number of children who are overweight and inactive means that preventing children from becoming overweight along with the associated medical conditions should be an immediate health care initiative in the United States.

If a need for treatment has been determined, your child’s doctor may recommend one of the following lifestyle options:²

Behavioral/Lifestyle Interventions

Dietary Therapy

Consultation with a pediatric nutritionist will help you determine health eating habits for your child.  Pediatric nutritionists may focus on not only what and how much your child eats, but also how he eats (speed, at the dinner table or in front of the television, etc.).

Physical Activity

All children should get 60 minutes of moderate physical activity each day. For very young or ill children, who are not yet ready to play for this long a period, gradually increasing the time spent in physical activity is recommended.

Behavior Therapy

Family-based programs have produced the best long-term results. These programs often involve identifying your thoughts about a lifestyle change, recording eating and activity habits, identification and avoidance of high risk situations (like keeping high calorie foods in the house), and providing your child with non-food rewards for meeting specific goals. 

Guidelines for Choosing a Behavior Therapist

Behavioral Interventions and Behavior Therapy

A lot of problems experienced by young people can be helped or treated with behavioral interventions or a relatively quick dose of behavior therapy.

Can Your Child Benefit From Counseling?

Medical Treatment

Drug Treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of any drugs to treat obesity in children. 

Surgery

Surgical procedures, like gastric bypass, are usually only considered when severe medical conditions are present and can improve with surgery. 

¹ American Academy of Pediatrics; Committee on Nutrition. (2003). Prevention of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity: Policy Statement. Pediatrics, 112(2), 424-430. Accessed on April 1, 2006.

²American Obesity Association. Childhood Obesity. Accessed on April 1, 2006.

TRICARE policy for reimbursement requires that services must be medically necessary for a diagnosed psychological disorder. The disorder must be one referenced in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and must be of a severity not only to cause the patient distress but also to interfere with the patient’s usual activities.