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AAP NY Times

July 10, 2008

flickrA recent New York Times article, called “8-Year-Olds on Statins? A New Plan Quickly Bites Back”, has many parents up in arms, and rightly so. The article claims that the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending the use of statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs, to prevent heart disease in. The report was misleading, as it implied that this was a fully endorsed plan by the AAP. Instead, the policy statement by the AAP was carefully considered and clearly recommended a case-by-case evaluation in the context of the family’s medical history. On the other hand, this article by the AAP and the following media coverage does signals an increasing recognition of childhood obesity. While they are not recommending parents add lovastatins to their children’s low-fat milk, it is worth looking at the following recommendations:

1. “For children between 12 months and 2 years of age for whom overweight or obesity is a concern […] the use of reduced-fat milk [may] be appropriate.”

2. The AAP recommends a change in diet with nutritional counseling and increased physical activity for children at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease.

3. Screen children with a family history of cardiovascular disease, if their history is unknown or if they have other risk factors such as obesity, hypertension or smoking.

4.”For these children, the first screening should take place after 2 years of age but no later than 10 years of age. Screening before 2 years of age is not recommended. ”

5. Weight management is the primary treatment for overweight or obese patients. This includes increased physical activity and an improved diet.

6. Medications, such as statins, should be considered for patients eight or older with a family history of cardiovascular disease to lower their levels of LVL cholesterol, especially if there are other risk factors such as obesity or diabetes.

Clearly the new attention to America’s increasing epidemic of childhood obesity is worthy of media coverage and parental concern, however children are not simply small adults and, by extension, their care needs to be uniquely considered.

Posted by AnnabelleMoore | Filed Under Dr Geary 

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