NEWS
2010 - 07 - 08 Obesity and Overweight among Children in Luxemburg
On 15 June 2010, in the context of its convention with the Ministry of Health, the Centre for Health Studies handed over to the Minister the final report of the OSPEL (Obesity and Overweight among Children in Luxemburg) study.
Obesity is a world-wide public health problem, causing severe damage to health and raising rates of premature death. The Luxemburgish health authorities have joined forces with clinicians and the Centre for Health Studies in the search for solutions, so as to be able to offer effective treatment for obesity among children and adolescents.
This research project compared the efficacy after one year of two treatment models for obese children, among a sample of 205 children between 7 and 17 years of age.
The first model, traditionally applied in Luxemburg, is based on medical treatment, with dietetic or psychological support as required.
The second model, which is new to Luxemburg, consists of structured out-patient multidisciplinary treatment for 4 months in a schedule of several sessions per week, including medical monitoring, nutritional education, physical activities, psychological support, and the involvement of parents in the therapeutic process. Besides comparing the efficacy of the therapies, this study also provided a demonstration that there is a need for urgent action, as obese or overweight children already show significant disturbances in several biological markers, which in adulthood are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
This research project benefited from collaboration with many partners in Luxemburg, such as the Ministry of Health, the Department of Health, the Luxemburg City Hospital, the Zitha Klinik, Kirchberg Hospital, the National Sports Institute, the Ministerial Department of Sports, the Mondorf Thermal Cure Centre, the Commune of Strassen, the Ministry of National Education and Professional Instruction, the National Research Fund, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the Luxemburg Dieticians’ Association, as well as the support of clinical doctors and professionals in the therapeutic team.
Contact: Dr Hanène Samouda