Comments on: Child and adolescent obesity: AMA recommendations–but is more needed?

By: Sherry Sanders

Sherry Sanders — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:06:44 +0000

Thank you Dr Hubbard and Kelley for your comments. Children are dependent upon their adult caretakers to take care of them, and all adults need to take repsonsibility for that and take charge in making this happen. It seems like everyone wants to blame everyone else for this problem when we really should just focus on getting things moving in the right direction with finding ways to implement the recommendations and programs to provide the needed education and services.
Anyway, I could go on and on but thank you for your support.
Sherry

By: jhubbard

jhubbard — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:42:30 +0000

Thanks Kelley. I agree.

James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Publisher, James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor

By: Kelley Germanson

Kelley Germanson — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:06:59 +0000

Eating disorders do correlate with mental health issues, very insightful

By: jhubbard

jhubbard — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:58:47 +0000

Excellent. You not only have the experiences, but the knowledge. I agree with you, and hope that the day will come when weight loss surgery is a needless rarity.

Please keep up the good work as you could become a leader this struggle.

Thanks for your thoughtful, intelligent insight.

James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Publisher, James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor

By: Sherry Sanders

Sherry Sanders — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:28:43 +0000

I am a student and parent who recently completed a research paper on this subject with regards to utilizing weight loss surgery as a treatment for childhood obesity. Studies across the US are now under way to discover the effocacy of performing Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and adjustable gastric panding on youth between 12 and 18 years of age. The biggest question is whether these surgeries to reduce weight will result in more issues due to the lack of nutrition and impact on childhood physical development during important phases of growth in adolescence.
I grew up as an overweight child and never received the help or assistance I needed to lose weight although I was told many times to do it. When you are a young person, it is hard to know what to do and how to do it to be successful, and there was no where for me to turn for help. After struggling for years, I ended up having gastric bypass weight loss surgery to treat my obesity. It has been a huge life change for me, but what do you do about all of the children who are already very overweight and are experiencing adult-like comorbidities of obesity that will surely shorten their life satisfaction and expectancy?
I do not know what the answer is, but we cannot just make all of these recommendations and not do anything to make them come to life. Just like there have been movements for cancer, AIDS and other diseases, it is going to take a big effort in fund raising to start programs, educate parents, children and professionals to work with these children and much more to make this change happen for the sake of all children.
Here is the concluding paragraph of the paper I just completed:
“Once current studies are completed and there is more evidence in their use with children and teenagers, wide spread use of weight loss surgery with youth can be reconsidered. With the continued investigation of new weight loss methods that are less invasive and more effective for both children and adults, there is hope that there will one day be a better solution for morbidly obese patients needing this type of treatment. And with societal change, there will be a concerted effort to prevent children from becoming overweight in the first place and surgical treatments will be needed less frequently if at all. Preventing children from becoming overweight through diet and exercise education and practice as well as personal support for eating disorders and mental health issues is the key to preventing obesity later in life.”
Thank you,
Sherry Sanders
Denver, CO

By: Weekend Reminiscing | Mark Salinas, MN | Healthy Living Today [Nutrition, Fitness, Weight Loss]

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:16:34 +0000

[...] Christine McKinney Eat Right, Stay Well Natural and Organic: Not the Same MyFamilyDoctor Child and adolescent obesity workoutmommy-Avoid being tricked by food [...]

By: James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H

James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:32:44 +0000

I sympathize with parents with young kids. There are so many temptations. I sympathize, but not worry, about concerned people like you, Maria, because you will do the right thing. You don’t have to be perfect, just educated, persistent and, sometimes, assertive.

Thanks

By: Maria Olsson-Tysor

Maria Olsson-Tysor — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:07:31 +0000

There are so many things in the discussion on childhood obesity that scares and upsets me… One major issue I think is all the horrible “foods” that are marketed to our children (sugary cereal, packaged snack foods, and other stuff filled with food colorings, additives, perservatives, substitutes, etc.) - even foods what most people consider “healthy” like yogurt (look at the sugar content), “juice drinks” (with 5% juice, the rest ??)…
Until your kids start school it’s relatively easy to avoid some of this stuff (try to lead by example, eat together, introduce REAL food, try shopping at farmers’ markets and health food stores and skip the fast food places all together). But, even at places like the pediatrician’s office I’ve had to say thanks, but no thanks to candy being offered to my kids (no, we haven’t introduced that yet… and intend to avoid it as long as possible).
What happens when they start school and what do they serve there? (no, I don’t intend to only send carrot sticks with my kids).
To really deal with this issue I completely agree with that more accurate information needs to go out and we parents need to be educated (and motivated). Hopefully all together we can change this unhealthy trend!
Be well!

By: James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H

James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:50:40 +0000

I wonder if insurance companies are thinking along those terms. They should.
Thanks Mark

By: Mark Salinas

Mark Salinas — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:16:46 +0000

“increase physical activity in school and for supporting efforts to make communities more activity-friendly (such as preserving and enhancing parks, and including walking and bicycling paths).”A great idea! How about offering incentives community wide to keep active. Should the insurance companies have an incentive, preventative based program? I think so. Great post!

Mark Salinass last blog post..Physio Ball Exercises