14,4 million US children are officially diagnosed with obesity
“Obesity in children and adolescents is a chronic disease that must be treated immediately and intensively,” the American Academy of Pediatricians issued a statement admitting defeat in the fight against excess weight. The pandemic has made the situation worse - the rate of weight gain has doubled in 2020. Now young gluttons face gastric resection - after 13 years, doctors will send suitable candidates with diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol for this operation. And from the age of 12, treat with the drugs “Orlistat” (blocks fat absorption), “Ozempic” (reduces hunger), “Metformin” (for diabetics). A treatment protocol has been approved for children using motivational conversations, diet and sports. For children over 6 years of age who suffer from Bardet-Biedl syndrome, a genetic disease that causes obesity, the drug setmelanotide is indicated.
Doctors believe that such an aggressive approach will save people from diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, breathing problems in adulthood, and increase life expectancy and quality of life.
I think America in general has a problem with food culture. Children consume burgers, fried potatoes and other fast food on an industrial scale. All the pastries and sweets are so sugary - you feel like you’re just chewing sugar. Why do parents allow the formation of bad eating habits? It is cheap. Good quality products labeled “organic” are so expensive that sometimes it is more profitable to go to a restaurant than to cook dinner at home. By the way, the “organic” label is slapped on whatever they want, since it is not regulated by the FDA in any way.
Author: Yunia Pugacheva
