Multidisciplinary Management of Adolescent Obesity for Nurses

This session focuses on management of obesity at an individual level. It will describe the multi-disciplinary treatment of obesity in adolescents. Current guidelines for best practice in this area will be outlined and relevant public policy documents highlighted. Some important management strategies will be described and outcomes for the most common approaches to treating adolescent obesity will be presented.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Identify the aims of weight management in adolescents
• Recognise when unhealthy methods of weight control are being used and take appropriate action
• Follow the recommendations from key documents outlining best practice in the management of adolescent obesity
• Identify the key nutrition, activity and behavioural targets for effective treatment of adolescent obesity
• Recognise the potential ill effects of exposure to media coverage of weight control
• Evaluate the suitability of commercial weight loss programmes for young people
• List specific considerations for weight management in adolescents

This session will cover the aims of weight management programmes in adolescence and will help you detect when unhealthy methods of weight control are being used. It will compare healthy and unhealthy methods of weight control and provide advice on what to do if unhealthy weight control is suspected.