Question
A 3.5-year-old child weighing 30 kilograms, in good physical condition except for obesity, is often sleepy and prefers snacks. The parent is worried that excessive intervention may affect the child’s growth. How should it be appropriately handled?
Answer
Obesity, or simple obesity, refers to excessive accumulation of subcutaneous fat. Generally speaking, obesity is defined as a weight exceeding 20% of the average standard weight calculated by height, or more than two standard deviations above the average standard weight calculated by age. Depending on the degree of overweight, obesity can be classified into mild, moderate, and severe. Mild obesity exceeds 2 to 4 standard deviations above the standard weight, moderate obesity exceeds 3 to 4 standard deviations, and severe obesity exceeds 4 standard deviations. For pediatric obesity issues, it is recommended to adopt a balanced dietary management approach, avoiding excessive restrictions that may affect the child’s normal growth. It is encouraged to engage the child in moderate physical activity and increase the proportion of vegetables and fruits in the diet while reducing the intake of high-calorie snacks. At the same time, parents should