If Your Children Need Treatment

For overweight children, the most successful treatment combines healthy lifestyle changes -- improved diet and exercise -- with a focus on changing such behaviors as eating while watching TV. Children also need psychological support to deal with the lack of self-esteem and isolation faced by overweight kids.

What about drugs or surgery? Most doctors consider them last resorts for severely overweight adolescents with other serious risk factors.

If you're worried about your child's weight, talk with your doctor. Depending on your child's weight and age, the goal might be simply to stabilize your child's weight so that, as he or she gets taller, your child "grows into" a more appropriate weight. Or, the goal might be to gradually lose and keep off excess pounds.

What if your doctor suggests a treatment program? "Look for a program that involves both your child and you," advises Ellen Rome, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Cleveland Clinic's HealthyLifestyles Program. "Especially with younger children, you're the one who's buying and preparing the food."

The Cleveland Clinic says a child weight-control program should also:

• Employ a variety of health professionals. The best programs may include registered dietitians, exercise physiologists, pediatricians, family physicians, psychiatrists and psychologists.

• Evaluate your child's medical status. A doctor should review your child's weight, growth and health before enrollment. During enrollment, a health professional should monitor your child's weight, height, growth and health.

• Fit the age and capabilities of your child. Programs for 4-year-olds differ from those for 12-year-olds. They place differing degrees of responsibility on the child and on the parents.

• Focus on behavioral changes.

• Teach your child to select a variety of foods in the right portions.

• Encourage daily activity and limit sedentary activity like watching TV.

• Include a maintenance program to reinforce new behaviors and deal with issues that led to the weight problem in the first place.