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Kan. (WIBW) – A Stormont Vail pediatric weight management physician says childhood obesity has become a growing issue in recent years
About one in five children is classified as overweight. Health experts say childhood obesity sets up an unhealthy adulthood
Dr. Karli Alderson with Stormont Vail Weight Management said the long-term risk is significant for teens who do not address weight issues early
“If you are a teen and have struggled with obesity and continue to have obesity, your likelihood of being an obese adult is about 70 to 80 percent,” Alderson said. “But if you can control that weight issue by the time you’re 18, your risk of obesity is the same as the normal population, which is 30 to 40 percent.”
To help children who struggle to maintain a healthy weight, Alderson said she has been prescribing the weight loss medication Wegovy to patients 12 and older
“We use Wegovy. It is currently being studied for kids 6 and up, but we are really looking at safety risks at that age,” Alderson said. “Safety is proven at the age of 12 and up for bone health — no changes in height as people go through puberty.”
Alderson said the medication has shown benefits beyond weight loss
“Quality in body esteem, family relationships and social life and interaction and body comfort — these things improve with Wegovy,” Alderson said. “I have seen it. Kids just feel better.”
Alderson said she follows strict criteria before offering the medication as an option
“I follow the guidelines completely. I do not do any compounding,” Alderson said. “You really have to be watching the lifestyle and the behaviors. These medications are to help kids develop a better relationship with food and listen to the body once the biology has been corrected.”
Alderson also noted that children who stop taking the medication will regain weight if they do not maintain a healthy lifestyle and eating habits
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