AZEVEDO, Inês Alexandra et al. Childhood neglect: Another perspective on childhood obesity. []. , 32, 4, pp.310-313.   31--2023. ISSN 0872-0754.  https://doi.org/10.25753/birthgrowthmj.v32.i4.26514.

Childhood obesity is a multifactorial condition. Extreme cases are often associated with the inability of caregivers to follow the recommended diet plan, despite prior warnings of the potential risks associated of non-compliance.

A seven-year-old girl with a body mass index (BMI) of 38.6 kg/m2 (z-score +7.3) and multiple comorbidities was seen in a Pediatric Nutrition outpatient consultation. After several attempts to educate her guardians about the potential risks of obesity, the girl was referred for a multidisciplinary evaluation and placed in a children’s home. With adequate nutrition and regular exercise, significant improvements were achieved in BMI (23.5 kg/m2; z-score +2.06). After three years, the girl was returned to her family home by court order, with subsequent worsening of her BMI (maximum 40.7 kg/m2; z-score +4.07), despite information provided by the medical team to social services and the court.

Given that caregivers play an essential role in the prevention of childhood obesity, persistent refusal to follow therapeutic recommendations coupled with indifference in the face of red flags meets the criteria for abuse.

: child abuse; child neglect; childhood obesity; body mass index.

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