Austrian research finds dietary treatment in eight in 10 childhood obesity programmes, while psychological care appears in fewer than half and movement therapy in just over a third.
Nutrition therapy remains the cornerstone of programmes aimed at tackling childhood obesity, but psychological support and exercise guidance are still far less common, according to a survey highlighted by Krone. The report found that dietary treatment appears in eight out of 10 therapy offers, while psychological or psychotherapeutic care is built into just under half. Movement-based therapy is included in a little more than a third of programmes, suggesting that many services still lean heavily towards food rather than a broader treatment plan.
That imbalance matters because obesity is rarely caused by diet alone. Medical reviews from the US National Library of Medicine describe obesity as a complex condition shaped by genetics, behaviour and environment, and say effective treatment usually combines dietary change, increased physical activity and behaviour therapy. Those same reviews note that weight loss of about 5% to 10% can improve cardiovascular risk factors and lower the chance of type 2 diabetes progressing, underlining why multidisciplinary care is often recommended.
The Austrian findings also point to a shortage of specialist input. Psychological experts are present less often than nutrition professionals, and exercise specialists are the least frequently involved. Almost half of the programmes work with experts in a regional network, which may help fill gaps, but the overall picture still suggests uneven access to the full range of support that many children and teenagers need. In Germany, official health information from gesund.bund.de says nutrition therapy is usually delivered one-to-one, while group formats are less common, and that insurance coverage can be patchy or partial, which may further limit uptake.
Juliana Bhardwaj, the study lead at SIPCAN, said the causes of obesity are “multifaceted” and that successful treatment in children, as in adults, requires a multiprofessional approach. She said nutrition, movement and psychological factors must be considered together, along with each child’s individual circumstances and, in particular, the family and social environment. Research cited in a recent review on childhood obesity supports that view, finding that behavioural approaches can outperform diets alone and that involving parents can improve long-term results.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
