Research progress of Chinese and Western diet therapy for children and adolescent obesity and overweight

¹ Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
² Management, Sanda University, Shanghai, 201209, China
³ Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China

^* Corresponding author: qiyuyang@connect.hku.hk

Abstract

Childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity rates have been increasing year by year, becoming extremely common and posing serious health risks, making it a global epidemic. Childhood obesity should not be ignored, and in-depth prevention and treatment should be implemented to reduce the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood and promote long-term health and physical development in children. Dietary therapy is beneficial for children to maintain a healthy weight, achieve nutritional balance, and prevent obesity. Additionally, specific nutritional requirements such as the ketogenic diet can be used in combination with dietary therapy to target the treatment of obese children. The traffic light diet plan can enhance children’s awareness of healthy eating and promote adherence to a balanced diet. However, childhood obesity is influenced by various factors. This article will analyze the causes of childhood obesity and incorporate the dietary concepts of ancient Chinese scholars. It will compare the different dietary treatment methods for childhood obesity in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, such as the Warm Gallbladder Decoction, and explore other complementary interventions such as medication. By comparing the similarities and differences between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, we can avoid their respective shortcomings and develop their advantages, combining them to provide feasible short-term and long-term treatment methods for obese children and adolescents. Furthermore, it can provide future research prospects for the development of dietary treatments specifically tailored to pediatric obesity patients.