Childhood Obesity

CHILDHOOD OBESITY: A CALL TO ACTION FOR PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
Presenter - Tsiros MD

Increasing evidence suggests that obesity may be linked with reduced
physical functioning and disability in children. Common obesity-related
impairments may include limitations in cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle
strength, increased pain, reduced balance and motor skill proficiency and
other musculoskeletal issues. Limitations in daily functioning are also
seen, with some obese children having difficulty with simple daily tasks like
walking, climbing stairs and rising from a chair. Hence, it is not surprising
that children with obesity tend to have poor physical health-related quality
of life and lower participation in physical activity. This presentation will
be a ‘call to action’ for physiotherapists, discussing a number of important
questions. What role do physiotherapists have to play in childhood obesity
management? How do we ‘find the right fit’ when prescribing physical
activity for children? Furthermore, what factors should physiotherapists
be mindful of when working with children who may be overweight or
obese? Lastly, how can we develop strategies to limit obesity-related
disability in childhood and beyond? If we can get children moving and
functioning better, then we may help them to be more active which will
assist their weight management in the long-term.

Key Practice Points:
This session will assist physiotherapists working with children to:
• Identify overweight/obesity in children
• Understand how obesity impacts children’s movement and function
• Identify considerations for interventions to promote function and
physical activity