Some data indicate that obesity among children is on the increase. Defining Obesity in Children and Adolescents Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat. A trained technician may obtain skinfold measures relatively easily in either a school or clinical setting. The triceps alone, triceps and subscapular, triceps and calf, and calf alone have been used with children and adolescents. Not all obese infants become obese children, and not all obese children become obese adults.
Obesity presents numerous problems for the child.
Some authorities feel that social and psychological problems are the most significant consequences of obesity in children. Childhood obesity most likely results from an interaction of nutritional, psychological, familial, and physiological factors. This may be due to powerful genetic factors or to parental modeling of both eating and exercise behaviors, indirectly affecting the child's energy balance. Since not all children who eat non-nutritious foods, watch several hours of television daily, and are relatively inactive develop obesity, the search continues for alternative causes. Treatment of Childhood Obesity Obesity treatment programs for children and adolescents rarely have weight loss as a goal.