Chattanooga doctors want families to know that there are underutilized options beyond diet and exercise to help treat childhood obesity — a common and increasingly prevalent disease with serious health and social consequences.
Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines calling for more proactive treatment of childhood obesity. The guidelines highlight evidence that obesity treatment, which may include intensive health behavior therapy, medication and bariatric surgery, is safe and effective in children.
“There is no evidence that ‘watchful waiting’ or delayed treatment is appropriate for children with obesity,” Dr. Sandra Hassink, an author of the guidelines, said in a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics. “The goal is to help patients make changes in lifestyle, behaviors or environment in a way that is sustainable and involves families in decision-making at every step of the way.”
Dr. Joani Jack, medical director of the Childhood Healthy Eating and Active Living Center at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, specializes in treating childhood obesity and said the updated guidelines are intended to empower more general pediatricians and primary care providers to evaluate and treat obesity and weight gain in children. For adolescents, prescribing medications or referring them for metabolic and bariatric surgery may be appropriate.