Does your 8-year-old need cholesterol drugs?
Monday, July 7, 2008 | 12:21 PM ET
by Tara Kimura, CBCNews.ca
Exercise, counselling and cholesterol-absorption inhibitors are on the prescription pad for children as young as eight, according to new guidelines released by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The group suggests adopting an aggressive approach to treating obese children who have high levels of low-density lipoprotein and high blood pressure, in order to stave off serious heart problems later on in life.
In the U.S., about 32 per cent of children were overweight and 16 per cent obese, according to 2008 statistics released by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control. According to Health Canada, obesity rates have spiked over the past three decades. In 2004, 18 per cent of children and adolescents were overweight and eight per cent were obese.
"If we are more aggressive about this in childhood, I think we can have an impact on what happens later in life ... and avoid some of these heart attacks and strokes in adulthood," Dr. Stephen Daniels, who serves on the AAP's nutrition committee, told the Associated Press, which also noted he has worked as a consultant to Abbot Laboratories and Merck & Co. but not in a capacity involving cholesterol drugs.
The AAP's list of drugs for children include the following:
- Bile acid-binding resins.
- Niacin.
- Statins.
- Cholesterol-absorption inhibitors.
- Fibrates.
The Academy says these drugs are largely safe for children, but they also note the medications may involve side effects including gastrointestinal problems, flushing — a sensation involving tingling of the skin, glucose intolerance and in rare instances rhabdomyolsis — a disorder that involves the breakdown of muscle cells. Cholesterol-Absorption Inhibitors have also not yet been tested extensively in trials involving children.
The AAP also suggests using low-fat milk for overweight children over the age of one — overturning previous advice that suggested saturated fats in higher-fat milk aids with brain development. Parents are also encouraged to stick with a low-fat diet for children over the age of two.
Are you a caregiver? How do you ensure that your child's weight is healthy? Would you consider giving an at-risk child cholesterol drugs?
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Amber Hildebrandt writes for CBCNews.ca in Toronto. Growing up on a farm in Manitoba, she acquired an insatiable appetite, but it was during a stint in Japan that she developed her discerning tastebuds and "foodie" ways.
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Comments
Kelly
Ontario
This is outrageous. I think that if smoking in a vehicle with your child is a crime then so should allowing your children to be obese. What is the difference? Drug companies must be smiling today. There is NO WAY I would EVER put my child on a drug if there was another option (ie-TURN OFF THE XBOX!)Todays kids are LAZY, get them out in the fresh air, working, helping neighbours, playing ANYTHING.
Posted July 8, 2008 12:29 PM
Rhiannon
Vancouver
This is insane. If we believe this then we really are insane. It is not right to put children on cholesterol drugs, OBVIOUSLY. It is not even right to put ADULTS on these things. They are killing people and they are not tested. How do you know what will happen to the kids in the future? There are no long term studies...
I cannot believe I even have to post this. It should be obvious that children and adults need excersize and good diet, not drugs.
I can't even believe I have to write this.
Please, God, just let the intelligent species evolve and let the others fall away quickly; I am cro-magnon amongst neanderthal.
Posted July 8, 2008 01:19 PM
Lise
Ontario
Wow. I have to say the pharmaceutical companies have got guts, but I'm really not surprised. Read "Selling Sickness: How the World's Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies Are Turning Us all into Patients" by Ray Moynihan and Alan Cassels. It really opened my eyes to our culture of embracing (and sometimes inventing) diseases, rather than finding ways to prevent them. Instead of medicating our children do common sense things, like: eating more vegetables, fruits, and less red meat; Exercise; Portion control; Ditch the "fake-food" with the long list of ingredients I can't even pronounce, much less spell.
Unbelievable.
Posted July 8, 2008 02:33 PM
Clories
I feel like my grandfather when I say this, however, I remember when I was a kid and we actually had to play outside for entertainment, since computer games had hardly been invented yet. My parents only allowed 1 hour of TV on Saturday morning and then it was time to go outside. Whether it was riding our bikes, playing tag or walking around the block, the rest of the weekend was spent in the great outdoors surrounded by fresh air and sunshine. Neither my brother or I were plagued with obesity, high cholesterol, or indigestion.
My thought for the day: turn off the TV and hide the game console, then make the kids go outside. They will be healthier for it and hey! You may even get a moment to yourself to rest and relax!
Posted July 18, 2008 07:45 PM
Alexa Canell
PA
To the comments that I read about putting children on these medications is wrong but you cant blame everything on the parents. My child has a low fat diet and is out side every chance he get running all over the place on the weekends he goes out a 9am and comes in at 6 when it gets dark. My son is autistic and is taking medications that can cause diabetes and makes him hungry all the time he eats healthy fruits and vegetables for snacks and still has high cholesterol so if you have any suggestions on how to solve this problem let me know your outrage should be at the drug companies NOT THE PARENTS!
Posted December 4, 2008 05:58 PM