Hello Doctor,
What are the possible reasons for excess weight in active children? Although my 7-year-old daughter is very active, she is noticeably overweight. We adhere to a nutritious diet with balanced meals and refrain from between-meal snacking. We have carried out diabetes and thyroid tests, and even sought advice from a dietitian, but we have seen no improvement. Surprisingly, the dietitian's strict dietary recommendations have led to further weight gain. I am looking for guidance to address my daughter's weight issue before it escalates into a more serious problem.
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to Dr. Galen. Please find the below response to your query.
To address this, a comprehensive assessment is essential. We need to determine the child's weight, height, and waist circumference. Additionally, evaluating body composition through methods like in-body measurements is crucial. A full dietary history spanning at least three days, including weekends, will be obtained.
Following this assessment, our approach will focus on three main aspects:
Dietary Plan: We will create a diet plan that provides the appropriate amount of calories and balanced protein intake throughout the day. This plan will restrict sugary foods, beverages, and artificial sweeteners. Processed foods will be minimized, and we will encourage the consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, and nuts. The specific dietary plan will be tailored based on the collected data.
Physical Activity and Lifestyle Modification: We will work on developing an effective physical activity routine and lifestyle modifications that suit the child's needs.
Psychological Support and Behavioral Therapy: The involvement of family members will be key in providing psychological support and behavioral therapy to the child.
Thanks