One in five children and adolescents are either overweight or obese. Sadly this figure is higher in Western Sydney.
Western Sydney Diabetes recently hosted a forum on child and adolescent obesity with tips for health professionals on preventing, identifying, and treating childhood obesity. Alarming statistics highlighted the sensitivity of health professionals required to work with children and their families in a supportive and unbiased way.
Subject matter experts Professor Louise Baur, Dr Hiba Jebeile, Clin A/Professor Li Ming Wen, Jennifer Plaskett, presented at the forum which was chaired by WentWest Board Chair, Conjoint Professor Diana O’Halloran AO.
Key takeaways from the forum
30-40% of adolescents with eating disorders (EDs) have a history of obesity. This figure demonstrates the sensitivity needed when treating childhood obesity. As health professionals, it is important to act as role models and work with children and their families in a supportive and unbiased way. Weight issues should be identified methodically and accurately by monitoring a patient’s Body Mass Index and behaviours rather than relying on visual perceptions alone.
GPs should recommend diets which are tailored to the individual and are professionally supervised to ensure patient safety. Messaging around weight management needs to be clear to patients, with simple tips such as, ‘aim to keep your waist less than half your height’, and appropriate language such as ‘above a healthy weight’, rather than ‘obese’ or ‘fat’.
What more can your practice do?
- Use appropriate language to tackle weight stigma
- Promote healthy lifestyle and behavioural changes
- Provide frequent follow-ups
- Offer phone coaching and SMS reminders
- Refer to therapists e.g. dietician, clinical psychologist, exercise professional…
- Implement a chronic disease management plan
- Monitor behaviour not just physical weight
When to investigate:
- High-risk family history
- Higher risk ethnic background
- Severe obesity apparent
- Clinical assessment suggestive of co-morbidities
Barriers to consider when providing behavioural treatment:
- Poverty
- Culturally and linguistically diverse patients
- Learning disabilities and developmental disorders
- Low literacy
- Family in crisis
- Psychiatric disorders
- Poorly resourced/funded services
Benefits of being a healthy lifestyle champion
Medical practitioners have the opportunity to demonstrate empathetic and non-judgemental behaviours towards patients with obesity. Creating a supportive environment can improve the effectiveness of standard weight management interventions and reduce the risk of longer-term obesity-associated complications. Weight management measures must consider the future physical and psychological health of each child.
Further resources to support your patients:
- http://pro.healthykids.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/193112-Conversation-starters-professionals-resource_ART-update.pdf – provides conversation starters for health professionals to address healthy growth and lifestyle management with children and their families
- http://pro.healthykids.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/192901-8-Healthy-Habits-infographic-update_PRESS.pdf – Infographic of 8 simple habits for 2-17-year-olds to achieve a healthy lifestyle
- http://go4fun.com.au/ – Go4Fun is a free healthy lifestyle program for NSW children aged 7 to 13 who are above a healthy weight, and their families.
- https://uconnruddcenter.org/ – The Rudd Center promotes solutions to childhood obesity, poor diet, and weight bias through research and policy
You can re-watch the Western Sydney Diabetes Obesity forum via the myINTERACT app, and read about the success of the event here: and read about the success of the event here.