Weight loss programs

Times they are a changin’. With advances in technology, knowledge and understanding, things that once seemed impossible are now very much possible. We’re advancing so much, in fact, that some technologies are being offered to younger and younger patients than ever before. With this, comes controversy.

One such thing that’s under constant scrutiny is the availability of obesity related surgeries to teenagers and adolescents. People stand on both sides of the fence as to whether or not it should be allowed for younger patients, and as such, a new 5-year intensive study is about to kick-off that will investigate exactly what the consequences are for these surgeries on younger patients. Forty years ago this would have never been an issue as severe obesity was almost entirely limited to adults. Now, however, the age at which people become obese is getting younger and younger.

I couldn’t be happier an official study is being done as the article I just read summed it up nicely, “Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that about 2 million U.S. adolescents may be severely obese and have complications of obesity previously seen only in adults.” In the meantime, while we wait for those results, get your kids up, exercising and staying as healthy and fit as possible. Prevention is still the best idea!