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Jul 7, 2008 6:59 pm US/Eastern
Cholesterol Meds Could Curb Childhood Obesity
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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A doctor examines an obese 2-year-old. (File Image)
AP
Desperate times call for desperate measures. That's the approach pediatricians are taking when it comes to tackling childhood obesity.
Cholesterol drugs are no longer just for adults. New guidelines are encouraging the medications for young children. In an unprecedented move, pediatricians are calling for the use of cholesterol medications in kids.
"There's no question that diet and exercise should be first, and education, but all this takes a generation to change and we can't let the current generation go without being treated," says Dr. Sonia Gidwani from St. Luke's Hospital.
Guidelines released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend wider cholesterol screening for children, and more aggressive use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, starting as early as age 8.
"We should prevent the onset of heart disease," says Dr. Gidwani, "The earlier the better."
Thirty percent of our nation's children are overweight or obese, and doctors predict a rash of heart attacks and diabetes as they age.
Medications would target kids who have too much "LDL" or bad cholesterol. As well as those who have other risky conditions such as obesity and high blood pressure.
Whole milk is also being discouraged for children over age 1 if their doctor is concerned about future weight problems.
Previously, low fat milk was only recommended over age 2 because children need fat for brain development, but it seems that's not an issue.
"Low-fat milk should be great for kids at this stage in our lives, purely because there's adequate amount of fat that is there in the rest of our food," says Dr. Gidwani.
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