ABSTRACT
150Childhood obesity develops through an interplay of genetics, environment, and behavior. Treatment of childhood obesity includes dietary modification, increasing physical activity, and, at times, medication and surgery. Obesity can lead to several comorbidities and chronic diseases, the most common include hypertension, cardiac changes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. These diseases can serve to shorten the child’s life. Our efforts should be focused on primarily reducing obesity and, when necessary, adequately treating the secondary outcomes in an effort to reduce future morbidity and mortality.
