obesity_children_flashcards
Why is defining obesity in children more difficult than in adults?
Because body mass index (BMI) varies with age, requiring BMI percentile charts for accurate assessment.
What charts are suggested by recent NICE guidelines to assess obesity in children?
‘UK 1990 BMI charts to give age- and gender-specific information’.
What BMI percentile requires consideration of tailored clinical intervention according to NICE?
BMI at 91st centile or above.
At what BMI percentile should comorbidities be assessed according to NICE?
BMI at 98th centile or above.
What is the most common cause of obesity in childhood?
Lifestyle factors.
What are some associations of obesity in children?
Asian children (four times more likely to be obese than white children), female children, taller children (often above the 50th percentile in height).
What are some medical causes of obesity in children?
Growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, Down’s syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome.
What are some orthopaedic problems associated with obesity in children?
Slipped upper femoral epiphyses, Blount’s disease (a developmental abnormality of the tibia resulting in bowing of the legs), musculoskeletal pains.
What are some psychological consequences of obesity in children?
Poor self-esteem, bullying.
What are some other health consequences of obesity in children?
Sleep apnoea, benign intracranial hypertension.
What are some long-term consequences of childhood obesity?
Increased incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischaemic heart disease.
