Children with obesity need “behavioral counseling,” recommends Task Force: “Call for action”

Young people with obesity should receive intensive behavioral counseling, according to a major health authority.

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) conducted a systematic review of various types of weight management interventions – including behavioral counseling and Prescription drugs — for children and young people aged 6 and over.

The official recommendation was published in JAMA on Tuesday.

Severe childhood obesity is increasing in the US

The task force stated that people in this age group with a high BMI (95% or more) should receive at least 26 hours of “comprehensive, intensive behavioral intervention.”

“The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that there is moderate net benefit in providing comprehensive, intensive behavioral interventions or referring for such interventions to children and adolescents ages 6 and older with high BMI,” the recommendation states.

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“Therefore, clinicians should offer such interventions to patients with high BMI or refer them to appropriate healthcare professionals.”

About 19.7% of U.S. children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 have a body mass index (BMI) of 95% or more, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

BMI tends to increase with age and in certain ethnic groups, including Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans/Alaska Natives, and non-Hispanic black children and adolescents.

According to the CDC, adolescents from low-income families are also more likely to be obese.

Although BMI is not a “perfect measure” of obesity, the Task Force found that most children with a BMI above 95% are obese, while few children with a BMI below 85% fall into the obese category.

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida-based neurologist and longevity expert, is not affiliated with the USPSTF but commented on the new guidelines.

“This recommendation is not just a guideline, it is a call to action,” he told Fox News Digital.

“Early detection and intervention are crucial to prevent a potentially lifelong Health problems.”

According to Osborn, obesity can be considered a “gateway disease” that is associated with many other non-infectious, age-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, Heart disease and even certain types of cancer.

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Osborn agreed that the recommended behavioral interventions are “vital” to helping young people develop healthier lifestyles.

“These interventions focus on supervised physical activity (replacing cell phone use with structured exercise), healthy eating education and behavior change techniques,” he said.

In addition to behavioral changes, Osborn recommends the inclusion of medications such as GLP-I agonists – such as Ozempic – as a “necessary boost” to boost weight loss.

“These medications can be particularly helpful when behavioral interventions alone are not enough, helping young people gain the momentum they need to healthier lifestylesaid Osborn.

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“Just as we once revolutionized public health by fighting infections, today we must focus on preventing and controlling obesity to avert a cascade of future diseases.”

Source of the original article: Children with obesity need “behavioral counseling,” recommends Task Force: “Call for action”