- Share This Post
- submit
- 7
-
Sparkle (0)
I've written several posts about the epidemic of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is very serious, mainly because of all the secondary problems associated with it, including death.
Childhood obesity is directly related to poor eating habits, and lack of activity. So, when I heard that the use of statin medication had been approved for children as young as eight, I was quite surprised, and very skeptical.
This is the news clip I saw earlier today...
When I first heard it, it almost made sense. But, the problem with this way of addressing childhood obesity, is that you are only treating a symptom (in this case high cholesterol) of a much greater problem. Let me give you an example...
If you have a child that burns their hand on the stove, and the doctor tells you to treat it with burn ointment, that makes sense. However, if this is the tenth time your child has burned their hand on the stove??? Well, maybe it's time to address prevention and not just treatment.
I really believe that we need to focus on preventing and treating childhood obesity, and the answer won't be found in any pill. Lifestyle change and better eating habits are the only way to prevent the longterm effects of obesity. Here are a few sites that might help you improve your child's eating habits...
From Kids Health - Healthy Eating
From Mom to Mom - Unique Ways to Help Kids Eat Healthy
Tips For Children With High Cholesterol
From PBS Parents - Encourage Kids To Eat Healthy
Games To Get Your Kids Eating Healthy
From WebMD - High Cholesterol in Children
So, while treating some cases of childhood high cholesterol with statins may be appropriate, it's far from a solution. I would say it's like putting a band-aide on a gaping wound...But, it's actually more like not even trying to stop the bleeding, and using blood transfusions to counter the blood loss. It just doesn't make very much sense.
I'm not the only one questioning these new recommendations, this is from The New York Times...
While some doctors applauded the idea, others were incredulous. In particular, these doctors called attention to a lack of evidence that the use of the cholesterol-lowering drugs, called statins, in children would prevent heart attacks later in life.
. . .
Other doctors said the recommendation would distract from common-sense changes in diet and exercise, which are also part of the new guidelines.
“To be frank, I’m embarrassed for the A.A.P. today,” said Dr. Lawrence Rosen of Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, vice chairman of an academy panel on traditional and alternative medicine. He added: “Treatment with medications in the absence of any clear data? I hope they’re ready for the public backlash.”
Newsweek Health has an interesting article on the pros and cons of statins for children...
Newsweek's Mary Carmichael spoke with Peter Belamarich, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, who has prescribed statins to some kids but takes issue with the new guidelines.
Did you hear about this? What do you think? Here is some of what others are saying...
From Angie at ParentDish...
The AAP has also reversed its original stance against giving children under the age of 2 reduced fat milk. Higher fat milk was recommended because saturated fats are essential for brain development. "But now we have the obesity epidemic and people are thinking maybe this isn't such a good idea," said Dr. Frank Greer of the University of Wisconsin, co-author of the guidelines report, which appears in the July edition of Pediatrics, the group's medical journal.
Young children are now getting the fat they need from sources other than milk and the updated recommendation is based on recent research showing no harm came from younger children drinking the reduced-fat milk.
Theresa from Poked and Prodded...
Dr. Daniels says medication isn’t for every kid. “We are only talking about children who have pretty high cholesterol, cholesterol that would be high for an adult,” he says. Children who are obese and have diabetes or other risk factors are more likely to be candidates for medication.
“It’s
