Children as young as 8 years old with high cholesterol can be prescribed statin medicines to lower cholesterol, according to the new policy of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;122/1/198
Typically these children are obese, and may have high blood pressure. We know medical professionals are struggling with how to manage the huge onslaught of childhood obesity. How does a doctor tell parents or their children that their child is fat, overweight, chubby, short-for-their-size? What word do you use that isn’t offensive?
That’s only the beginning. The greater challenge is: What is a doctor to do about it. So the doctor can counsel an overweight child, who more often than not has an overweight parent, to make lifestyle changes. “Exercise, eat right”. Maybe even quantify it, and suggest 30 minutes a day of activity and eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables. And the doctor becomes the trainer in lifestyle intervention; something that they themselves are not trained to do. What’s the follow-up? When will the doctor see the family again?
Well now doctors can give the health-challenged child and parents a ‘solution’. A prescription drug that is only presumed safe for children, and send them on their way. Yahoo! It gets the doctor off the hot seat, and takes the responsibility away from the parent or their child.
It does not help to prevent the problem from getting worse. Fat kids become obese adults. It does not empower the family. It does not affect the cause. We don’t even know if it will be a cure. A cure is unlikely, given the number of adults in the US on statin drugs, and our rate of death by heart disease.
We know diet and exercise make a difference. And diet and exercise can influence genetic expression. We are not helpless but we live like we are.
We live in a world where exercise and nutrition advice are gleaned from commercials, websites and grocery store ads. Where volume of cheap food is the norm. We’ve made it ‘fun’ to get fat.
Why aren’t we being taught and supported by the professionals (dietitians, health educators, trainers, etc) who are skilled and trained to deliver, monitor and manage individuals and families? What happened?
Moreover, what are you going to do about it?
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3 comments:
"We are not helpless but we live like we are" is a fine quote that really encapsulates the much of the modern experience; when used to describe our dietary habits, it hits the nail right on the head.
It is indeed fun to get fat! McDonald's exists for this very reason: they were the original pioneers of making it fun to get fat. It seems our entire restaurant industry exists because of this. It's too fun to get fat and it's too difficult to get un-fat! How can you help but choose the more entertaining route?
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