The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new guidelines on treating the 14 million children and teens in the US who are considered obese. Gone is the wait-and-see approach. Recommendations include a more proactive approach by pediatricians and primary care physicians along with prompt referrals to intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment, prescribing weight loss drugs or advising surgery in some cases. Marco Werman puts these news guidelines in a global perspective in a conversation with Nik Dhurandhar, editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Obesity and a professor of nutrition at Texas Tech University.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!