Evaluation of responsible factors in childhood obesity and developing suggestions for solution

Evaluation of Responsible Factors in Childhood Obesity and Developing Suggestions for Solution Introduction: Obesity is defined as increased abnormal fat accumulation that endangers human health in the short and long term. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as one of the most important health problems of the 21st century. Similar to adults, the prevalence of obesity in children increased significantly during the last three decades of the 20th century. The aim of our study is to develop suggestions for solution of childhood obesity byobserving and documenting the change in the body mass index (BMI) z-score of obese children in response to the lifestyle changes and nutrition education during a one-year follow-up. Methods: This study was designed as a prospective study supported by nutrition and obesity preventive life-style education in order to control exogenous obesityin obese children who applied to Istanbul Training and Research Hospital Pediatric Outpatient Clinic between January 2018 and July 2019. The study group was planned in 50 children with exogenous obesity at school age, aged 6-18and the group was monitored for one year to determine obesity indicators with life style and nutrition education intervention given before the second 6 months of the study. Results: During the first six months of follow-up period without life-style and nutrition education, there was a significant increase in the mean weight from 69.77 kg to 71.84 kg, and the weight averages significantly decreased from 71.84 kg to 66.12 kg from the 6th to 12th months when nutrition and lifestyle education were applied. Finally, the baseline and the 12th month weight measurements showed significant difference with a decrease from 69.77kg to 66.12 kg (p <0.001) (Table 3). Conclusion: It was demonstrated that lifestyle and nutrition education to obese children is an effective method in the management of obesity, which is a global public health problem. In our study, the only intervention to control obesity was lifestyle and nutrition education and a specific diet program was not recommended. This is the first study in our country showing the success of this method. Key Words: childhood, obesity, nutrition education, life-style, treatment