부산대학교 도서관

Child obesity is a complex, multifactorial, chronic medical pathology. There is no consensus in treating child obesity, so prevention remains still an ideal approach. If prevention did not succeed, then nutritional intervention is needed. In the last years, there is evidence that nutrition in early infancy and childhood might be used as a preventive tool in the management of obesity. Some factors in early life are important for the risk of overweight and obesity later in childhood. Among the postnatal factors, breastfeeding and complementary feeding are of interest. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of later obesity. A high protein intake during complementary feeding is associated with a higher risk of obesity while, a high fat intake during this period does not seem to be a risk factor for later obesity. On the contrary, in older children and adults, a high fat intake is associated with higher risk of obesity. Rapid weight gain early postnatal (0 - 6 months), seem to be a good indicator for the risk of obesity later in life. If prevention does not succeed then, dietary intervention would be the second tool in management. Some standard general recommendations and also some special dietary models (low/medium carbohydrate diet, energy restricted diet, low glycaemic index diet) can be used to treat overweight/obese children. Conclusion. Nutrition even since early childhood is essential to prevent later obesity; nutritional intervention should be adapted to age and need to keep in mind that the child is continuously growing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]