Question
A 12-year-old boy, in elementary school, has been observed to be gaining weight recently. He seems to eat without control, and he’s not interested in exercising. How should one treat childhood obesity and overweight?
Answer
When a child is obese, parents need to control their diet and increase their physical activity. Encourage them to engage in age-appropriate exercises such as swimming and jogging. Vegetables like carrots and spinach can help with weight loss, while high-calorie foods like peanuts and hamburgers should be avoided. It’s also important to help correct bad habits such as not being active after eating or being picky about food. During treatment, parents should monitor their child’s condition at all times. For severe cases, treatment should be under the guidance of a doctor, and avoid self-treatment.