Question
A 10-year-old boy, now in elementary school, this year, I found that my child’s weight is much heavier than other children. Additionally, he can eat several bowls of rice at a meal, and he usually doesn’t like to go out to play. How should we treat the situation of pediatric overweight and obesity?
Answer
Once a child is diagnosed with obesity, parents should first adjust the child’s condition through exercise and diet. You can have the child learn to swim, as the resistance of water during swimming is much greater than that of air during land-based exercise, which can help burn fat more quickly. Additionally, encourage the child to eat more high-fiber foods like spinach and carrots, and avoid giving them high-calorie snacks like macadamia nuts and cookies. Help the child correct bad habits such as not being active after eating or being picky. If the child’s obesity symptoms are severe, it is important to take them to a regular hospital for targeted treatment without resorting to blind treatments.