Gov't Task Force Recommends Treatment, Screening for Obese Kids
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that doctors screen children for obesity and give them treatment if they need it.
Treatment would be once or twice a week for at least six months, and include diet, activity and behavior counseling. Just five years ago, the task force said there were few benefits in treating overweight children because most treatment plans do not work. Insurance companies often will not pay for pediatric obesity treatments for the same reason.
However, the Task Force’s new guidelines indicate that even slight progress – such as not gaining more weight or losing a few pounds– can be extremely beneficial to children.
Treatment would be once or twice a week for at least six months, and include diet, activity and behavior counseling. Just five years ago, the task force said there were few benefits in treating overweight children because most treatment plans do not work. Insurance companies often will not pay for pediatric obesity treatments for the same reason.
However, the Task Force’s new guidelines indicate that even slight progress – such as not gaining more weight or losing a few pounds– can be extremely beneficial to children.
- For example, just losing two pounds can move a very young child out of the "overweight"category and into "normal."
- About 32 percent of American children are overweight
- About 20 percent of American children are obese.
- The panel did not recommend that doctors prescribe diet drugs to children.
Labels: government, screening, treatment
posted by My Overweight Child at 4:10 AM
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