BMJ  2006;333:1171 (2 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39045.412593.1F

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Physical activity to prevent obesity in young children

Dietary and behavioural modifications in managing childhood obesity

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The article by Reilly et al provided conclusive evidence that other interventions besides enhanced physical activity are necessary for decreasing the BMI (body mass index).1 The management of childhood obesity needs a multidimensional approach including dietary modifications, behavioural modifications, and physical exercise. Only in conjunction with the former two will physical activity have an impact in reducing obesity. Dietary modifications include avoiding eating in restaurants, decreasing soft drink intake,2 decreasing portion sizes, avoiding dried and calorie rich foods, and increasing the fibre content of diet. Behavioural modification strategies include educating children and parents about healthy diets, encouraging children to keep food diaries and avoiding habits such as eating while watching television. Reinforcement of these strategies along with regular physical exercise is likely to produce significant results rather than using one approach exclusively. The management of childhood obesity is especially important to prevent complications such as low self esteem,3 hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, . . . [Full text of this article]

S Kapoor, resident physician

1 UIC, Chicago, IL 60612, USA skapoor5@uic.edu


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Relevant Article

Physical activity to prevent obesity in young children: cluster randomised controlled trial
John J Reilly, Louise Kelly, Colette Montgomery, Avril Williamson, Abigail Fisher, John H McColl, Rossella Lo Conte, James Y Paton, and Stanley Grant
BMJ 2006 333: 1041. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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