Common approach to childhood obesity in Japan

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Childhood obesity prevalence is plateauing but remains a significant social and medical issue.
• Japan established criteria for obesity disease (2002) and childhood metabolic syndrome (2010) due to rising lifestyle-related diseases.
• The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) concept underscores the importance of early life factors in obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline principles for the general medical treatment of childhood obesity.
• To emphasize the critical role of obesity prevention, starting from infancy and prenatal stages.
• To advocate for global information exchange in childhood obesity treatment and prevention.

Main Methods:

• Review of established criteria for obesity disease and metabolic syndrome in children.
• Identification of non-pharmacological treatment principles: diet therapy, exercise, and avoidance of medication.
• Consideration of preventative measures beyond behavioral therapy, including prenatal interventions.

Main Results:

• Three core principles for non-disease-specific obesity treatment are diet, exercise, and no pharmacotherapy.
• Overweight status tracking from infancy indicates the need for early prevention.
• Prenatal preventative measures are crucial for reducing overall obesity incidence.

Conclusions:

• Prioritizing obesity prevention over treatment is essential.
• A multi-faceted approach, including DOHaD and prenatal care, is vital for combating childhood obesity.
• International collaboration and information sharing are key to advancing global efforts in childhood obesity management.