The Messenger Vol. Weight Management, an obesity clinic at the A.I. duPont Institute, a children's hospital in Wilmington, annually treats 1,200 children, from infants through adolescents, who come from as far away as Virginia. There are not a lot of programs like ours in the country, and I'm not sure why. In fact, the number of overweight children has more than doubled in the past 30 years, particularly in the last decade, according to national federal statistics.
Some kids come to our program feeling really bad about their size.
They face a lot of teasing, and they have a hard time in all areas of their lives. Experts believe that the popularity of television, with the resulting drop in physical activity and the increased consumption of convenience foods, might be contributing to the rise of obesity in children, Hassink says. For the first time, we have the ability to look at the individual and the way that individual handles his or her weight. Up until now, we've been looking at obese people as a group. Each person's obesity is unique, Hassink says, so the weight management professionals at the A.I. duPont Institute evaluate each child's medical condition, eating and exercise habits and any psychological problems, such as low self-esteem.