Prevention and treatment of obesity since childhood. A strategy to decrease the prevalence of non transmissible chronic diseases in the adut

The prevalence of obesity among children and teenagers is increasing by 1.5 % per year, probably due to a higher consumption of highly caloric foods ar d to physical inactivity. Hypercholesterolemia, increased insulin levels an d high blood pressure of childhood obesity precede atherosclerosis, coronar y artery disease diabetes and hypertension in adulthood. The prevention of childhood obesity is an efficient strategy to decrease the prevalence of no n transmissible chronic diseases In the adult. The recommendations of exper ts committees for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of childhood obes ity are reviewed. They aim at a change in dietary habits and increasing phy sical activity. A well balanced healthy diet aid a decrease in physical ina ctivity time will result in a successful treatment approach for obesity.