550 children and teenagers treated for obesity in Agder

Over the past four years 550 children and teenagers from Agder have been treated for obesity at Sørlandet hospital, writes Fædrelandsvennen.

The “Smart Livsstil” treatment program, which was started on March 1, 2015, is given to children who have a body mass index indicating that they are suffering from obesity or severe obesity.

Over the past four years, 550 children and teenagers in Agder have received the treatment, according to the newspaper.

– Several studies shows that between 15 and 20 percent of all children and young people in Norway are overweight. We treat only the 3 percent that are at the top of this scale, says pediatrician and medical director Unni Mette Stamnes Köpp at Sørlandet Hospital.

Three out of four participants in the treatment program state that they experience a positive effect. The offer is for children and teenagers between 2 and 18 years.

– If we look at our results, we should have been in the picture even earlier. Experience shows that we achieve the best effect in the youngest children, those who still have a lot of height growth, says Köpp.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today