American Academy of Pediatrics Issues Its First Comprehensive Guideline on Evaluating, Treating Children and Adolescents with Obesity

New Guidance: Use drugs, surgery early for obesity in kids

Childhood obesity requires early, aggressive treatment, new guidelines say

U.S. experts recommend weight-loss drugs for obese children

Pediatricians Recommend Weight-Loss Drugs for Obese Children

The largest association of pediatricians in the U.S. recommends weight-loss drugs for children and adolescents with obesity 

"Children and adolescents with obesity have higher prevalence of comorbidities and a greater risk for obesity during adulthood, morbidity, and premature death."

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on why weight matters. 

1 in 5 children in America are obese (CDC)

. AAP found the most effective intervention for children ages 6 and up requires 26+ hours of 

"face-to-face, family-based, multicomponent treatment" 

while also acknowledging that this treatment is time consuming, and is not universally available. 

Screen for high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension

 AAP says there isn't enough evidence to recommend medication for children ages 2 to 12 years old. 

“This is not different than [when] you have asthma and now we have an inhaler for you.”

Co-author of the new guidelines, Dr. Sandra Hassink.

The guidelines do not cover obesity prevention, though the AAP says this will be addressed in the future.

“It’s not that I’m against the medications. I’m against the willy-nilly use of those medications without addressing the cause of the problem.”

Dr. Robert Lustig, University of California, San Francisco – a specialist in pediatric endocrinology. Some doctors voice concern about using weight-loss pills/injections too quickly, or without long-term clinical data on side effects for children. Furthermore, some health insurance companies may not pay for weight-loss medications.

A doctor uses a child's height and weight to calculate their body mass index, or BMI. 

A calculator tool compares the child's height and weight to other children the same age and sex. 

Being 'overweight' means having a BMI in the 85th to 95th percentile, compared to others their age and gender.

Being 'obese' means having a BMI at or above the 95th percentile, compared to others.

Health

New Guidance on Weight-Loss Drugs for Obese Children

American Academy of Pediatrics Issues Its First Comprehensive Guideline on Evaluating, Treating Children and Adolescents with Obesity (American Academ

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Leah Jahn