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Obesity

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Handbook of Pediatric Behavioral Healthcare

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Abstract

Pediatric obesity is a complex, chronic disease that results from a multitude of genetic, biological, behavioral, environmental, and epigenetic factors, and it is associated with a range of physical and psychosocial health consequences both in childhood and into adulthood. The contributors and consequences of pediatric obesity can be viewed within the social-ecological perspective, which posits that bidirectional relationships exist between children’s individual, environmental, social, and cultural factors. In accordance with this perspective, a multi-tiered and interdisciplinary approach is necessary for optimal screening, assessment, prevention, and intervention of pediatric obesity. This chapter begins with a background of the measurement, prevalence, and etiology of pediatric obesity, followed by a discussion of physical and psychosocial health outcomes. Next, evidenced-based prevention and intervention approaches are discussed, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration across child serving systems, including the home, school, community, and healthcare setting. A case study is also provided to help illustrate the interdisciplinary nature of pediatric obesity screening, assessment, prevention, and intervention. Finally, the literature is summarized and future directions are explored.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Tarrah Mitchell & David Janicke

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  1. Tarrah Mitchell
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  2. David Janicke
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Correspondence to David Janicke .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of School Psychology, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

    Susan G. Forman

  2. Department of School Psychology, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

    Jeffrey D. Shahidullah

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Mitchell, T., Janicke, D. (2018). Obesity. In: Forman, S., Shahidullah, J. (eds) Handbook of Pediatric Behavioral Healthcare. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00791-1_4

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