Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

Weight loss surgery is advancing technically, and rapidly becoming an option not only for obese patients, but for those who are merely overweight. However, some doctors and nutritionists worry that these surgeries carry risks and can never replace improved diet and exercise as a long-term solution to weight control.

• The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery reported that 220,000 people had procedures in 2008, representing a twofold increase from 2007.
• This year, the Penrose Medical Center in Denver became one of the first surgical centers for obese teens. A surgery costs $9,500 and is not always covered by insurance.

"I am so disgusted with this," said Dr. Wendy Scinta, a pediatric specialist in childhood obesity on the board of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians.

"In children, it is still considered experimental. It's kind of young to be going through something so drastic," Dr. Scinta said. "We're at the point where the obesity epidemic is happening faster than we can get our arms around it, but especially with children, we do have time. We need to give them a shot at doing something less aggressive at first."

Labels: obese teens, weight loss surgery

Posted By: Aspen/CRC