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Treating Obesity in Children and Adolescents with Special Healthcare Needs

  • Childhood Obesity (A Kelly and C Fox, Section Editors
  • Published:
Current Obesity Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This paper aims to summarize the literature regarding treatment of obesity in children with special healthcare needs and provide examples of implementation based on the available scientific evidence and the clinical experience of the authors.

Recent Findings

Due to the complexity of providing treatment for children with obesity and special healthcare needs, multidisciplinary teams are recommended to adapt care to meet the children’s unique needs and ensure coordination of care across settings/caregivers. Medication management is often required to assist with the side effects of psychotropic medications. Children with special healthcare needs (SHCN) such as intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) should be considered for metabolic and bariatric surgery as they have similar outcomes to children without SHCN.

Summary

Children with special healthcare needs can be successful in weight management treatment when they have access to comprehensive care including dietary, behavioral, pharmacological, and surgical interventions. Each child requires a tailored approach to ensure their special healthcare needs are addressed within the treatment plan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Children’s Healthy Lifestyles & Nutrition, Kansas City, USA

    Meredith L. Dreyer Gillette, Haley J. Killian, Cristina Fernandez & Brooke R. Sweeney

  2. Divisions of Developmental and Behavioral Health, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, USA

    Meredith L. Dreyer Gillette & Haley J. Killian

  3. University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, USA

    Meredith L. Dreyer Gillette, Cristina Fernandez & Brooke R. Sweeney

  4. Division of Weight Management, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, MO, Kansas, USA

    Meredith L. Dreyer Gillette, Cristina Fernandez & Brooke R. Sweeney

Authors
  1. Meredith L. Dreyer Gillette
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  2. Haley J. Killian
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  3. Cristina Fernandez
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  4. Brooke R. Sweeney
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Correspondence to Meredith L. Dreyer Gillette.

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Dreyer Gillette, M.L., Killian, H.J., Fernandez, C. et al. Treating Obesity in Children and Adolescents with Special Healthcare Needs. Curr Obes Rep 11, 227–235 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-022-00484-y

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