Pharmacy Daily | Guidelines change for kids obesity

FOR the first time in over a decade, The American Academy of Pediatrics has published new guidelines recommending the use of weight-loss drugs in children aged 12 years or older for treatment of obesity, which impacts about 14.4m kids and adolescents in the United States and can lead to serious health complications.

The focus of the new guidelines announced this week is on the treatment of obesity, as opposed to prevention.

"I think they are important because there are a number of misunderstandings about exactly what causes obesity and there are some unintended biases, even by medical providers with regard to childhood obesity," said Dr Marc Michalsky of Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, a co-author of the guidelines.

The expert group said that therapies such as weight loss pill orlistat, Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.Co (semaglutide) - an injected diabetes treatment repurposed for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy - and the older, generic diabetes medicine metformin could be given in addition to changes in health behaviour and lifestyle.

"In particular, children with more immediate and life-threatening comorbidities, those who are older, and those affected by more severe obesity may require additional therapeutic options," the group said.

MEANWHILE Victoria University research has found when it comes to playing community sport, it seems girls just want to have fun.

The research team tracked more than 5,000 females who participated either in community club gymnastics or football (soccer) around Australia from 2019 to 2021.

About half of the survey respondents had stopped participating, and the other half were still involved with their sport.

Nearly two-thirds of those who left reported their main reason for stopping - especially for teenagers - was because they were not having fun.

Other major reasons included losing interest, having an unfriendly coach or official, injuries, or feeling too old.

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