Childhood obesity--the diagnosis and management

We do not, at present, understand the cause of obesity in children. Realising this, we should not pretend to be able to 'cure' obesity, rather we should promote a management programme that provides 'benefit' for the obese child. The value of triiodothyronine (T3) appears to be related to its role in promoting carbohydrate utilisation for energy production. The current hypothesis endorses this action and thus it might provide us with a better understanding of the nature of childhood obesity. There is no place for dietary restriction in the treatment of an obese child as it is a further damaging event in the unhappy life of such a child.