SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – The American Academy of Pediatrics has released its first comprehensive guidelines for physicians on evaluating and treating children with obesity.
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Almost 15 million children and teens in the United States are clinically overweight, which if not managed can have long term health impacts.
Lydia Tinajero-Deck is a parent and practicing pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland. She told KCBS Radio pediatricians categorize their patients as obese when kids reach an unhealthy weight that makes them at risk for complications, including pre-diabetes, diabetes, high blood pressure, liver problems, muscle problems and self esteem and mental health problems.
New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics released in January emphasize the complexities that come with and cause childhood obesity. Tinajero-Deck explained to KCBS Radio's "As Prescribed," for many families, the problem does not just lie in food.
"There's so many things from community to environment to ecologic to genetic, so it's no longer this is your fault," she said. "I think as a parent, really thinking about health, just health, and not worrying so much about weight or diet, but just thinking about health and avoiding diseases."
For families who are concerned about their child's weight, Tinajero-Deck stressed the importance of having a good relationship with their pediatrician.
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