Its timely treatment childhood obesity has both short-term and long-term effects, according to a study by the Swedish university “Karolinska Institutet”, published in the journal “The International Journal of Obesity”.

Investigators they followed over 170 young children in Sweden who had been treated for diagnosed obesity. Children, ages 4-6 years old, participated in the research, through pediatric clinics in the Stockholm area. They and their parents were assigned to three treatment groups: standard treatment, where children and parents had meetings about diet and exercise with a doctor, pediatrician, and/or dietitian, and a parent support group or a parent support group with follow-up telephone support . The two parent support groups did not involve children and the focus was on how parents could promote healthy lifestyles in the family in a positive and conflict-free manner.

As found, children in all three groups improved their weight status and saw a reduction in their degree of obesity. Children whose parents received parental support did the best, especially those who also received follow-up phone calls. “We also found that more children in this third group showed a clinically significant improvement in their weight status that was associated with better metabolic health, that is, better blood lipid and glucose levels,” notes lead researcher Polina Novica, associate professor of Pediatrics. of Science at Karolinska Institutet and professor of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics at Uppsala University.

While obesity is difficult to treat, she notes, the study shows that intensive treatment is safe and effective for preschoolers, “much more effective than if you start treating them in their teens.”