Child and Adolescent Obesity: A Practical Approach to Clinical Weight Management

Address the growing societal problem of childhood obesity with this practical guide

Childhood obesity and its associated health issues remain major societal concerns across both developed and developing worlds. In the United Kingdom, as many as a quarter of all children starting school are living with obesity, and this prevalence only increases as children and young people age. It has never been more critical for dietitians, nutritionists, and healthcare professionals to understand the mechanisms of childhood obesity and how to tackle this significant public health issue.

Child and Adolescent Obesity offers a comprehensive, practical, evidence-based overview of this subject. Adopting a modern approach, it incorporates global perspectives, including parent interviews, to produce a thorough and rigorous discussion of best practices. Clear and accessible, it is a must-own for all social and healthcare professionals working with children and adolescents.

Readers will also find:

• In-depth discussion of the building blocks of successful programmes
• Detailed discussion of topics including physical activity, family mealtimes, the whole systems approach, and more
• Guidelines for communicating key concepts related to obesity management with policymakers, senior managers, commissioners, and the general public

Child and Adolescent Obesity is ideal for dietitians, nutritionists, health and social care professionals, and students and trainees for these professions.

INDEX 

Foreword xv

Abbreviations xviii

Acknowledgements xxi

Introduction: The Voices of Lived Experience 1
Laura Stewart

1 What Is Childhood Obesity and Why Does It Matter 16
Laura Stewart

2 Socio-Economic Inequalities and Childhood Obesity 36
Laura Stewart

3 Systems Thinking and Systems Approaches to Address Obesity 51
Jenny Gillespie

4 Raising the Topic of Child Weight 74
Laura Stewart

5 Changing Behaviours 89
Laura Stewart

6 Physical Activity, Screen Time and Sleep 105
Laura Stewart

7 Modifying Energy Intake 119
Laura Stewart

8 Measuring and Monitoring in Practice 134
Laura Stewart

9 Understanding Obesity in Early Life 150
Julie Lanigan

10 Family Meal Times 165
Judith Cruikshank and Laura Stewart

11 Childhood Weight Management in Practice 181
Laura Stewart

12 Adolescent Weight Management: The Factors for Clinicians to Be Aware 197
Clare Q Neilson

13 Weight Management Considerations in Children Living with Special Educational Needs and Disability 217
Kiranjit Atwal and Laura Stewart

14 Obesity, Safeguarding and Child Protection 234
Rhian Augustus, Shelley Easter, and Laura Stewart

Index 255