• The American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines for pediatricians on childhood obesity, which have been met with criticism from all sides.
• The guidelines suggest a more aggressive approach to obesity in children and adolescents, up to and including medication and surgery.
• The guidelines have been met with criticism due to the way society has associated overweight and obesity with value, as well as the data behind the guidelines.
• The two fundamental disagreements are whether childhood obesity is a health concern and whether there is anything effective to do about it.
• Intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment is expensive, not widely available, and has small impacts.
• Medication for children 12 and over and bariatric surgery for children 13 and over with severe obesity are also suggested, but have their own issues.
• More evidence is needed on what might work, as well as discussion of the mental health impacts of these interventions on kids.
• The problem is difficult to solve and requires more work to be done.
Published February 6, 2023
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