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Published on Tuesday, 13 June 2006
In 1998, a US expert committee was formed to develop recommendations for physicians, nurse practitioners and nutritionists to guide the evaluation and treatment of overweight children and adolescents.
8 These recommendations include:
Intervention should begin early
The family must be ready for change
Clinicians should educate families about medical complications of obesity
Clinicians should involve the family and all caregivers in the treatment programme
Treatment programmes should institute permanent changes, not short-term diets or exercise programmes aimed at weight loss
As part of the treatment programme, a family should learn to monitor eating and activity
The treatment programme should help the family make small gradual changes
Clinicians should encourage and empathise and not criticise
A variety of experienced professionals can accomplish many aspects of a weight management programme