Obesity Management - KKH Adolescent Medicine Service Introduces a Structured & Holistic Approach
In February 2009, the Adolescent Medicine Department of KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) rolled out a structured programme aimed at managing the issues of overweight and obesity among adolescents.
Working in collaboration with the hospital’s other specialties, such as Sports Medicine Service, Nutrition and Psychology Service, the programme will be managed by a multidisciplinary team of experts to address the medical, physical and emotional health, as well as the nutritional aspects of affected children.
Although the overall proportion of overweight children in Singapore has dropped to below 10%, the percentage of obese (severely overweight) children has seen a rise from 2.7% in 1994 to 3.6% in 2007. Earlier initiatives towards obesity management in Singapore were unable to meet much success or participation, mainly due to clashing school hours and cost considerations. The “Trim and Fit” (TAF) programme run in schools too was discontinued due to reports of discrimination towards the overweight child and over-consciousness leading to eating disorders.
Obesity among children is multidimensional in its causes and effects: causes may be genetic, diet-related, environmental and even psychological, and the repercussions may even be life-threatening in terms of medical as well as emotional conditions. This makes it imperative to address all facets of the condition in an effective and holistic manner.
The KKH Obesity Management Programme
KKH’s Obesity Management Programme will encourage compliance by scheduling clinical appointments, group counselling, and workout sessions for evenings and weekends. With a balanced mix of individual and group-oriented activities, it is likely to be more affordable than individual counselling sessions.
The group-oriented approach and interaction of the programme is also expected to encourage greater participation and involvement as the children will inspire and support each other in their fitness goals.
The programme is customised to address key concern areas experienced by overweight and obese children. These include convenience of time, medical, fitness and emotional concerns, and even cost considerations. It aims to enhance compliance towards the programme, and bring about a change in attitude and lifestyle.
There are plans to eventually extend this programme to primary school children.
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The programme will cater to patients of the hospital as
well as referrals from family physicians, polyclinics and
Health Promotion Board. It will include a calendar of ongoing medical and risk assessments, fitness assessments and exercise routines, as well as
nutritional and emotional
counselling, with the objective of seeing changes in patients’ medical condition too.
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