Table 7 Primary care pediatricians’ responsibilities
Conditions | Responsabilities |
|---|---|
Risk factors: Prenatal life: first-degree familiarity for obesity, low socioeconomic status; Neonatal life: small for gestational age, or macrosomic infant; Postnatal life: no breastfeeding, early complementary feeding, excessive weight gain in the first two years of life, early adiposity rebound | Monitoring the child’s weight and length linear growth Educating to a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle since the earliest years of life Assuring appropriate timing of complementary feeding |
Children and adolescents with overweight or moderate, uncomplicated obesity | Early identification of children’s excess weight Promoting parental awareness of children’s excess weight Motivating and supporting the family to change, possibly involving other professionals trained in childhood obesity |
Severe obesity or psychological co-morbidity, or additional risk factors, or biochemical alterations, or treatment failure within 4–6 months | Identification of severe obesity Promoting parental awareness of children’s excess weight Motivating and supporting the family to more intensive levels of care |
Suspicion of secondary obesity | Referral to specialized centers |