For the first time in 15 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday released new guidelines for treating childhood obesity, emphasizing a need for early and intensive treatment.
results published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that a weekly injection of the drug, along with healthy exercise and eating habits, could help kids 12 and older cut their body mass index by about 16%, compared with just over 0.5% for a group that took a placebo.“The problem with these medications is they are very expensive and,” Han said, adding that a one-month supply of Wegovy can cost as much as $1,500, which is not affordable for most families.
She also acknowledged that these lifestyle changes can be really hard to adopt, especially for overworked and low-income parents. The guidelines emphasize a holistic approach to obesity treatment. This includes looking at the entire life of a child, considering not only physical habits such as diet and activity levels but also mental health, environment and the social inequities he or she faces.
The new guidelines do not directly address obesity prevention — that will come in future guidance — but they do emphasize the importance of funneling funds into public health policies aimed at obesity prevention. This includes creating safe, walkable neighborhoods, arming schools with the tools they need to support healthy lifestyles during childhood, and making sure everyone has equal access to affordable healthy food, which is not yet a reality.
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