New childhood obesity guidelines may do more harm than good

New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics on how to deal with childhood obesity will have “unintended negative effects,” says Kate Bauer.

The guidelines, the first in 15 years, advise urgent and early treatment interventions, including medications and surgery at younger ages, rather than relying on wait-and-see treatments.

More than 14.4 million US children and teens are at risk of serious short and long-term health concerns such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and behavioral health issues, if untreated, according to the AAP.

Bauer, an associate professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, is an expert on causes of and reactions to childhood obesity, especially in marginalized communities.

Here, she talks about the guidelines and some of her specific concerns about what they mean for health care providers, families, and society:

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