Obesity and Overweight in Children and Adolescents: Nutritional Prevention and Management

Dear Colleagues,

Overweight and obesity in children ad adolescents has become a worldwide pandemic over the past few decades due to dramatic socio-economic changes across all cultures. It poses profound increased risks for the early onset of metabolic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers. Children and adolescents with overweight and obesity are prone to mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. In addition, childhood and adolescence are critical developmental stages involving significant changes in brain development, psychological and cognitive capacity, social function, and developing personal and role identity. Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents have adverse social and economic impacts on families, communities, and nations.

Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents are preventable at multidimensional levels since it is associated with multiple factors. Lifestyle and behavioural factors such as diet, physical activity, screening time, and sleep are modifiable and shapable for healthy weight in this age group. Environmental changes such as health education, regulations in the food industry and marketing to children and adolescents, school curriculum, and a safe physical environment to boost active physical activity for children and adolescents are some promising strategies. Increasing attention is being paid to mental well-being in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity due to stigmatisation and isolation from society. Emerging genetic probes could provide evidence for precise prevention and management.

In this Special Issue of Nutrients, we would like to share innovative studies and evidence in all aspects of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with our peers and readers. Specifically:

• An assessment of the prevalence and the dynamic trend of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries;
• Explorations of the short- or long-term impact of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents on physical health and mental wellbeing, and broad socioeconomic effects;
• Investigations into contributing factors and their interaction with overweight and obesity in children and adolescents
• An evaluation of broad population-based interventions to tackle overweight and obesity in children and adolescents;
• A systematic review or meta-analysis on the above topics.

This Special Issue of Nutrients, entitled “Obesity and Overweight in Children and Adolescents: Nutritional Prevention and Management”, welcomes reviews of the literature concerning this crucial topic.

Dr. Ming Li
Guest Editor

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