[Obesity in childhood and adolescence--conditions that cause it, sequelae, treatment methods]

Obesity (20% over average weight for age, sex and height) is a serious condition in which there is an excessive accumulation of fat in the body. It is of growing importance in Western industrial countries and must be taken very seriously in children and adolescents, since 80% of the population are likely to become obese adults. Obesity in children is only partly genetically determined. Data on familial environmental influences show the enormous effect of parental eating behaviour and weight control on their children. It is therefore of utmost importance to treat children and their parents at the same time. Conflict-orientated child psychotherapy is known to be unsuccessful in treating obese children. Intervention programmes must aim at changing familial specific patterns of feeding and eating supported by diet and exercise. The therapeutic team must be aware of developmental problems in children and adolescents to prevent negative side effects of the treatment.