VICKY NGUYEN: More than 20% of 12 to 19-year-olds are considered obese. Obesity specialists say these meds, along with a healthy lifestyle can be used preventatively to tackle excess weight before it leads to other health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Which is why the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends weight loss drugs be offered to those as young as 12. Dr. Amanda Velazquez is the Director of Obesity Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and a paid consultant for weight loss drug makers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
What do you say to people who say 12 is too young to put a child on a weight loss medication?
DR. AMANDA VELAZQUEZ: Yeah, I think that it's about education for the family, because I think there is a lot of perception about using the medication for really appearances. That's not what we're here to do. What we're here to do is to help your patient, a 12-year-old be healthy.