Exercise and Childhood Obesity – 15 Years of Clinical Experience

Israel, as many other countries throughout the world, faces an alarming increase in the number of obese children and adolescents. Long-term follow-up indicates that obese children and adolescents tend to become
obese adults. Moreover, obesity is associated with increased risk of insulin resistance and non-insulin dependent diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis, as well as gastrointestinal, endocrine, orthopedic and respiratory morbidity and mortality. In addition, adults who were obese children have increased morbidity and mortality independent of their adult weight. Thus, effective prevention and treatment of obesity must start during childhood.

The Child Health and Sports Center was established at the Meir Medical Center in Kfar-Saba, Israel in 1999, as a clinical and research center that uses exercise for the treatment of pediatric diseases. Clearly, treating childhood obesity was one of the center`s initial missions. The center developed and implemented successful childhood obesity prevention and treatment programs. In this presentation, we will share insights from our in-hospital multi-disciplinary intervention (dietary, behavioral and exercise) as well as our community based intervention to prevent and treat childhood obesity.