Key Points
Dec 12 (Reuters) - Children with obesity should receive intensive counseling to promote healthy diet and exercise habits starting at age 6, according to a draft recommendation issued by a panel of U.S. experts on Wednesday...
Research since then has shown the effectiveness of intensive behavioral interventions - defined as at least 26 hours of counseling with one or more health professionals - for achieving a healthy weight and improving the quality of life for children and adolescents, the panel said..
The behavioral interventions would comprise "a package" that includes physical activity, support for behavior change, and education about healthy eating, said task force member Dr. Katrina Donahue of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine...
But the panel's review of data from 58 randomized controlled trials involving more than 10,000 children found that these interventions work, "as long as the child receives a total of at least 26 hours of contact with professionals," Donahue said...
But the AAP has advised pediatricians to offer weight-loss drugs for children age 12 and up with obesity and referral for evaluation for metabolic and bariatric surgery for adolescents age 13 and older with severe obesity...
