Special Issue "Comprehensive Care for Children with Obesity: Best Practices and Multidisciplinary Treatment Approaches"

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Global and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2021.

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Seema Kumar
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Divison of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
Interests: pediatric obesity; type 2 diabetes; dyslipidemia; bariatric surgery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Childhood obesity has assumed epidemic proportions worldwide. The increase in prevalence of childhood obesity has led to the emergence of “adult” diseases such as type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and sleep apnea in children and adolescents. Childhood obesity, particularly severe obesity, often persists into adulthood and therefore is associated with increased long-term morbidity and mortality.

Childhood obesity develops as a result of a complex interplay between genetic, epigenetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. Childhood obesity affects children from racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately. Treatment of obesity in children therefore requires a multifaceted, multidisciplinary, and culturally appropriate approach. Various team members (including medical providers, nurses, dieticians, mental health professionals and social workers) and disciplines (e.g., primary care, nutrition, psychology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, sleep medicine and surgery) play a critical role in management of obesity and related comorbidities.

This Special Issue, “Comprehensive Care for Children with Obesity: Best Practices and Multidisciplinary Treatment Approaches” will focus on the existing and novel treatment approaches to care of childhood obesity and related comorbid conditions. It will emphasize the importance of individualizing the treatment approach based on obesity pathophysiology and health consequences. The efficacy of lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy for treatment of childhood obesity is modest, and therefore, there is a continued need to evaluate novel treatment approaches that will augment the effect of current treatment modalities.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Seema Kumar
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Childhood obesity
  • Lifestyle modifications
  • Pharmacotherapy
  • Bariatric surgery
  • Pediatric type 2 diabetes

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

Review
Obesity and Metabolic Care of Children of South Asian Ethnicity in Western Society
Children 2021, 8(6), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8060447 - 25 May 2021
Viewed by 492
Abstract
South Asians constitute one-fourth of the world’s population and are distributed significantly in western countries. With exponentially growing numbers, childhood obesity is of global concern. Children of South Asian ancestry have a higher likelihood of developing obesity and associated metabolic risks. The validity [...] Read more.
South Asians constitute one-fourth of the world’s population and are distributed significantly in western countries. With exponentially growing numbers, childhood obesity is of global concern. Children of South Asian ancestry have a higher likelihood of developing obesity and associated metabolic risks. The validity of commonly used measures for quantifying adiposity and its impact on metabolic outcomes differ by race and ethnicity. In this review we aim to discuss the validity of body mass index (BMI) and other tools in screening for adiposity in South Asian children. We also discuss the prevalence of overweight and obesity amongst South Asian children in western countries and the differences in body fat percentage, adiposity distribution, and metabolic risks specific to these children compared to Caucasian children. South Asian children have a characteristic phenotype: lower lean mass and higher body fat percentage favoring central fat accumulation. Hence, BMI is a less reliable predictor of metabolic status in these children than it is for Caucasian children. Furthermore, the relatively lower birth weight and rapid growth acceleration in early childhood of South Asian children increase the risk of their developing cardiometabolic disorders at a younger age than that of Caucasians. We emphasize the need to use modified tools for assessment of adiposity, which take into consideration the ethnic differences and provide early and appropriate intervention to prevent obesity and its complications. Full article
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Review
Current Perspectives on Management of Type 2 Diabetes in Youth
Children 2021, 8(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8010037 - 10 Jan 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1269
Abstract
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children and adolescents is on the rise, and the increase in prevalence of this disorder parallels the modern epidemic of childhood obesity worldwide. T2DM affects primarily post-pubertal adolescents from ethnic/racial minorities and those from [...] Read more.
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children and adolescents is on the rise, and the increase in prevalence of this disorder parallels the modern epidemic of childhood obesity worldwide. T2DM affects primarily post-pubertal adolescents from ethnic/racial minorities and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Youth with T2DM often have additional cardiovascular risk factors at diagnosis. T2DM in youth is more progressive in comparison to adult onset T2DM and shows lower rates of response to pharmacotherapy and more rapid development of diabetes-related complications. Lifestyle modifications and metformin are recommended as the first-line treatment for youth with T2DM in the absence of significant hyperglycemia. Assessment of pancreatic autoimmunity is recommended in all youth who appear to have T2DM. Pharmacotherapeutic options for youth with T2DM are limited at this time. Liraglutide, a GLP-1 agonist, was recently approved for T2DM in adolescents 10 years of age and older. Several clinical trials are currently underway with youth with T2DM with medications that are approved for T2DM in adults. Bariatric surgery is associated with excellent rates of remission of T2DM in adolescents with severe obesity and should be considered in selected adolescents. Full article
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