The nurse´s care of obese children

Background: Children in our present society spend more time sedentary, and food has become more accessible. It is important to pay attention to obese children, because of the risk for serious diseases in the future. Obesity can also cause mental suffering for the child. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the nurse’s care of obese children. Method: The study was carried out as a literature review. The articles were examined by qualitative content analysis. Result: It was shown to be necessary with a change in the child’s lifestyle and behaviour to make treatment of obesity possible. It was shown that the family was an important resource for the child’s behavioural change. The nurse’s role was to support and counsel the family. It was important that the child achieved a healthy attitude towards food. It was also of great significance that the nurse worked to reduce factors in the child’s environment that lead to a sedentary behaviour, and motivated the child to perform a physical activity that was fun. Surgery of the stomach is a last resort for morbidly obese adolescents. It was important for the nurse to remember that participation in weight-loss programs could negatively affect the self-confidence of the child. Conclusion: The most important role for the nurse was to engage and motivate the whole family to a change of lifestyle