Behavioral treatment and psychological complications of pediatric obesity

Pediatric obesity is a chronic disease, requiring that patients and families receive multidisciplinary care, often including behavioral health services. This chapter describes behavioral health, psychological, and psychiatric treatment for children and adolescents with obesity. Like in the management of other chronic diseases, pediatric psychologists provide interventions to support adherence to treatment regimens for pediatric patients with obesity and their families. The cornerstone of pediatric obesity treatment is lifestyle modification therapy (LMT), and psychologists are uniquely positioned to implement the behavioral interventions of LMT. Furthermore, psychologists assist in managing co-occurring mental health concerns such as disordered eating, poor body image, anxiety, depression, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Due to the co-occurrence of mental health concerns, pediatric patients with obesity may be prescribed psychotropic medication by a medical provider. The chapter concludes with a discussion of psychotropic medication and the propensity for weight gain, as well as strategies to monitor and mitigate weight-gain associated with psychotropic medication.