Obesity generally takes years to develop and hence is usually a disease of the middle-aged. Children do, of course, become obese, but any child with severe obesity should first be investigated for an underlying genetic, medical or psychological cause. Sometimes these can be corrected with great efficacy. Failing this the next steps would be to investigate and modify the family environment. Surgical intervention should always be a last resort and should probably be restricted to children with severe genetic/chromosomal disorders that induce uncontrollable hyperphagia.
Professor Andrew Prentice was trained in biochemistry and then nutritional physiology at Cambridge University. His immediate post-doc years were spent in rural Gambia undertaking intervention studies in pregnancy and lactation. He returned to the UK to lead the Energy Regulation and Obesity Group at the MRC Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Latest posts by Professor Andrew M Prentice (see all)
- Why children should be given diet and exercise tips, NOT surgery - 1st March 2016
