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Updates in the Treatment of Pediatric Obesity

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology (SA Saeed and E Mezoff, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

A rise in obesity continues around the world and has a significant effect on the pediatric population. Practitioners should be well versed in all of the treatment options for pediatric obesity.

Recent Findings

The CDC released in December 2022 new Extended BMI growth charts, which use recent population data to describe BMI trajectories for children with obesity using percentiles and z scores. These charts are especially useful for tracking children with severe obesity. New research prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics to establish new clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of obesity. Providers should use motivational interviewing to engage families and counsel on treatment options. Intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment remains the foundation of obesity treatment. In addition, medications such as orlistat, phentermine, phentermine/topiramate, and GLP1 receptor agonists (liraglutide and semaglutide) are approved in patients 12 years and older. Evidence also supports bariatric Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and vertical sleeve gastrectomy as options for adolescents with severe obesity.

Summary

With increasing research into the treatment of childhood obesity, new therapeutic options are available. Pediatric health providers should implement intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatments and consider use (sharing decision with patient and family) of approved pharmacologic and procedural options.

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Funding

Dr. Barlow receives funding from the National Institutes of Health (R21 HD 105129).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Tiffany Freeney Wright, Claudia Moreda Rivero & Sarah E. Barlow

  2. Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA

    Tiffany Freeney Wright, Claudia Moreda Rivero & Sarah E. Barlow

Authors
  1. Tiffany Freeney Wright
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  2. Claudia Moreda Rivero
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  3. Sarah E. Barlow
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tiffany Freeney Wright.

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Conflict of Interest

Sarah E Barlow declares she has received travel costs and honoraria for a presentation at an academic institution and at a not-for-profit professional organization, and honorarium for participation on an advisory board for a federally funded research award. She is or has been a committee member, uncompensated, on the governing board of The Obesity Society, the writing group for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Clinical Practice Guideline, and the executive council of the AAP Section on Obesity. Tiffany Freeney Wright declares that she has no conflict of interest. Claudia Moreda Rivero declares that she has no conflict of interest.

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Freeney Wright, T., Rivero, C.M. & Barlow, S.E. Updates in the Treatment of Pediatric Obesity. Curr Treat Options Peds 9, 93–105 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40746-023-00270-5

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