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| Littleton Regional Hospital Addresses Pediatric Obesity |
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Littleton, NH - Littleton Regional Hospital's (LRH) North Country Pediatrics practice is leading the way for overweight children to have the chance to develop healthy habits that will improve their lives for years to come. Currently, there are no formal programs in Littleton to address pediatric obesity. Parents who want to help their children live a healthy lifestyle do not have resources to guide their efforts. Clinicians do not have enough time to discuss strategies with children and their parents during regular office visits. A team of clinicians from LRH has been meeting for the past few months to focus on a way to help children and their families.
A recent report created by the Foundation for Healthy Communities (a partnership of organizations throughout the State concerned about improving health in New Hampshire) titled NH Childhood Obesity Report surveyed 25 primary care practices throughout 17 communities over the State. This report revealed that about one out of three (1/3) children between the ages of six (6) and twelve (12) years is either overweight or obese.
Pediatric obesity affects the well being of children in many ways. It causes conditions affecting almost every part of the body. As overweight children go through their teens into adulthood, they have a greater chance of developing an early onset of heart disease, diabetes, increased cholesterol, and high blood pressure, stroke, arthritis, gall bladder disease, and many other conditions. In addition, obese children are more prone to poor self-esteem, social isolation, anxiety, and depression. But, if the obesity problem can be tackled before the growth spurt of puberty, there is a very good chance that those children will grow up to be normal weight adults. For this reason, North County Pediatric believes it is extremely important that children in the age group between 5 to 12 years be referred to this program so that they may have a chance for a healthy adult life.
North Country Pediatrics will be offering a multidisciplinary program that will begin in March. It will help children and their families tackle this growing health problem. The program will provide ways to make lifestyle changes by increasing activity level, decreasing "screen" time (T.V., video games, computer time, etc), eating a healthy diet, and dealing with some behavioral issues. These changes can result in major changes in a child's future health and well being.
To learn more about LRH's multidisciplinary program to address pediatric obesity, please call North Country Pediatrics at (603) 444-2803 or if you are interested in obtaining additional health related information please call LRH's Gale Medical Library at (603) 444-9564. | |
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