Obese 12-year-olds should consider taking weight-loss medications, and severely obese 13-year-olds should consider metabolic or bariatric surgery, according to aggressive new guidelines released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics. need to do it.
The new guidance marks the first time the AAP has recommended a weight-loss drug for childhood obesity. Collectively, medical groups are urging immediate and focused action to stay ahead of childhood obesity and overweight before the complications lead to long-term health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Sandra Hasink, author of the guidelines and vice chair of the AAP’s Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines Subcommittee, said in a statement: “The goal is to enable patients to make lifestyle, behavioral, or environmental changes in a sustainable way and to involve their families in decision-making at every step.”
Obesity and overweight have long been stigmatized as simple conditions resulting from individual choice. noted to be a complex medical condition involving
“Weight is a sensitive topic for most of us, and children and teens face a severe and unfair stigma for being affected by their weight,” said Sarah Humple, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the guidelines, in a statement. “Research shows where families live, access to nutritious food, health care, opportunities for physical activity, and health and quality of life.” Other factors need to be explored further: consequences and risks.”
The AAP defines being overweight as having a body mass index (BMI) above the 85th to 95th percentile. Obesity is defined as a BMI above the 95th percentile, and severe obesity is defined as a BMI above 120% of the 95th percentile for age and sex.
In addition to recommendations related to weight loss drugs for obesity and surgery for severe obesity, this guidance includes recommendations for motivational interviewing and intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment. The AAP also recommends that pediatricians evaluate overweight, obese, and severely obese children for dyslipidemia, hypertension, signs of prediabetes or diabetes, and mental health status. This guidance describes the increased risks children face due to special health needs, low socioeconomic status and systemic racism.
Last month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded growth charts for children and adolescents (ages 2 to 19) to track growth and treatment for severely obese children.
“Childhood obesity is a serious and serious problem in the United States,” Karen Hacker, director of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), said in a statement at the time. -for-Age Growth Charts allow clinicians to track growth and visualize high BMI percentiles with families.”
Before the pandemic, obesity affected approximately 14.7 million children and adolescents. The pandemic made things worse. According to a CDC study published in 2021, the percentage of children and adolescents whose BMI increased was doubled during the pandemic compared to her pre-pandemic years. Those most affected by the increase were overweight or obese children and teenagers, and school-aged children.
