Management of the obese adolescent

Obesity as a health problem appears to be increasing in incidence. Adolescent obesity is generally exogenous in type. The teenagers are basically healthy with advanced sexual and bone maturation. They suffer from peer ridicule and exclusion from activities. The weight problem bars them from successful adult adjustment in their social lives and career choice. To the physician who treats the obese adolescent, it would be wise to review the pitfalls of previous programs. The multidisciplinary approach is an attempt to combine dietary restriction and increased physical activity to gradually mobilize fat stores and provide psychologic support. Motivation is reinforced by a committed staff and by the patients' own obese peers with whom they meet weekly. Despite the repeated record of failure in adolescent weight reduction programs, it is hoped that the challenge of obesity management spurs the interest of physicians to increase their knowledge of nutrition and to intervene with early effective preventive measures.