All articles tagged with #severe obesity
A study finds that the percentage of children with 'extremely severe' obesity in the U.S. has more than tripled over 15 years, leading to higher risks of serious health problems like fatty liver and diabetes, highlighting a growing public health emergency and the need for better treatment access.
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics confirms that severe obesity is on the rise among young children in the United States. The study focused on children aged 2 to 4 enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which provides services to low-income families. The research found that the rate of severe obesity among these children had initially dropped but then increased again by 2020. The increase aligns with national data suggesting that around 2.5% of preschool-aged children were severely obese during the same period. The findings are concerning as severe obesity at a young age is associated with chronic health problems and early mortality. The reasons for the increase are unclear, but experts speculate that the challenges faced by families living in poverty may have contributed. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood obesity rates is also unknown but is expected to worsen the situation.
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics reveals that severe obesity is on the rise among young children in the US, contradicting earlier research that showed a decline in obesity rates. The study focused on children aged 2 to 4 enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children program and found that the rate of severe obesity increased from 1.8% in 2016 to 2% in 2020. The highest rates were observed in Hispanic children, and experts warn that severe obesity at a young age is associated with chronic health problems and early death. The reasons for the increase are unclear, but it is speculated that the challenges faced by low-income families and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to the trend.
Pediatricians are hesitant to prescribe weight loss drugs like Wegovy to teenagers with obesity, despite regulators and medical groups stating their appropriateness for children as young as 12. Concerns about the lack of long-term data and past cases of problems emerging years after drug approval contribute to this hesitation. Approximately 22% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 have obesity, with 6% classified as having severe obesity. Severe obesity in teenagers can lead to various health complications, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney failure, and eye damage.