Diet, exercise, behavior: the promise and limits of lifestyle change

The prevalent surge in childhood and adolescent obesity within the past 3 decades poses a significant challenge for many pediatric clinicians who are charged with treating this condition. Comprehensive, research-based pediatric obesity treatment programs are essential to addressing this problem and preventing the transition of obesity and its many comorbidities into adulthood. This paper will identify dietary, physical activity, and behavioral approaches to lifestyle change and describe how they are incorporated as part of multidisciplinary treatment interventions in youth. Specific tailoring of treatment programs to address age and varying degrees of overweight and obesity will also be presented along with recommendations for future research.