The article titled “Childhood and adolescent obesity: A review” was written by Kanstra, Lakkunarajah, and Jay and published in 2021 in the Frontiers in Pediatrics. Obesity affects both children and adults, and according to this article, 6% of adolescents in the United States have excess weight that might have negative implications on their life. In the article “Childhood and adolescent obesity: A review,” the authors examine the different treatment options for obesity and argue that current medication is the most effective approach to addressing this issue.
Kanstra, Lakkunarajah, and Jay (2021) overview a set of articles and studies that discuss obesity management. The authors have reviewed 188 studies on obesity to analyze the effectiveness of different treatments and approaches and to address the concern of whether these methods are useful when working with adolescents. Behavioral modification approaches are among the safest strategies for weight reduction; however, they also appear to be ineffective in the long term. The authors of his article emphasize the new findings in medication development, where GLP-1 agonists were used to treating obesity. However, although these drugs were effective, they were not yet properly tested on children. Hence, in this article, the researchers point out the major insufficiencies of the mainstream weight management programs and voice concerns regarding the medications that are not properly tested on younger individuals yet.
In general, this article uses a wide range of sources and peer-reviewed studies as the basis for the evidence, which is its main strength. The main recommendation is to monitor the child’s development and prevent obesity as opposed to treating the condition. Moreover, effective communication between the healthcare provider and adolescents can help prevent stigma and negative body image, which is essential for positive reinforcement of weight loss.
Reference
Kansra, A., Lakkunarajah, S., & Jay, M. (2021). Childhood and adolescent obesity: A review. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 8, 1-10.