It is estimated that 1 in 4 Canadian
children are overweight/obese
The Cohort Study involves overweight and obese patients in CHEO’s Endocrinology Clinic. The study allows researchers and physicians to go beyond the standard tests and conduct a more comprehensive assessment including the fitness testing, resting energy expenditure measurement, body composition and psychosocial functioning evaluation. All study patients are followed annually to assess for change. While changes in body weight are recorded, the Cohort Study is demonstrating that looking beyond the numbers on the scale is vitally important. A healthy shift in dietary habits, or an increase in daily physical activity levels are considered successes to be celebrated and viewed as a testament to the hard work of the patient and their family – these are the changes that will allow for long term positive healthy outcomes.
Child overweight /obesity is associated with an increased risk for metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, orthopedic and psychological co-morbidities. This means that many obese patients will require treatment in multiple hospital departments. The data and information being gathered in the Cohort Study will lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment by family physicians, and that’s a BIG STEP towards healthier children who spend less time in hospital.