Does Your Child need to be treated for High Cholesterol
July 1, the American Academy of Pediatrics released an urgent recommendation for the treatment of high cholesterol in children. The headline I read on Medscape - a division of WEbMD, indicated that the urgency was in response to the obesity epidemic in children.
My understanding is that the “epidemic” has plateaued two years in a row. Maybe sales of anti-cholesterol drugs at billions per year have plateaued also. Now a new market is established and thousands of pediatricians will need CME to know how to prescribe these drugs for adults for children. Undoubtedly, there will need to be an extension of the patent so that drug companies can “afford” to gear up the machinery to make the mini-doses required for obese kids.
I have to admit I did not read the details of how to treat because I was so appalled by the thought of giving a child these drugs. I am not the only person with this viewpoint. The American Academy of Pediatrics experts recommend doing “something” to stem the tide of potential cardiovascular disease.
So giving statin drugs to immature kids whose brains need most of the cholesterol because they are obese is their answer. Why not require insurance coverage of programs of physical activity and intense education in nutrition for all obese youngsters. If we are going to support a new program, why not more exercise and better nutrition which has been the recommendation for years.
How about competitions for physical activity and recognition programs for personal accomplishment in walking and following dietary guidelines. How about establishing and enforcing better nutrition programs in the schools. Check out the film SuperSize Me to see what can be done for the same money.
I am appalled at this recommendation. I hope legislators, dietitians and pediatricians all revolt. Yes, our kids are too fat. A few with diabetes and other special genetic diseases may need such therapy. Therapy with statins can not be the answer.
Look at the adult stats quoted by Hadler in The Last Well Patient. I have a review of that book in recommended products. There is not clear evidence that we save lives despite low cholesterol. It is the accepted norm but we know many of the physicians who made those recommendations are on the payroll of the companies making the drugs as speakers and consultants.
I am going to take my grandchildren to the gym myself if they were to need to lose weight. Fortunately they are quite thin and very active. What do you think parents and grandparents? Should we give our kids Lipitor? I say “HELL NO!” Let me hear your thoughts.
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Comment by Mike on 12 July 2008:
Whole foods, high in omega-3s would be my answer to high cholesterol problems in kids. It seems like every time the food, medical, and nutrition industries start breaking down foods and remanufacturing them(ie – high fructose corn syrup, margarine), we learn that they cause more harm than good. There’s nothing better than cooking with flax, walnuts, and other foods high in omega-3s.
Comment by This Mama Cooks! on 13 July 2008:
The even scarier thing about these drugs are the side affects. While they’ve been a great help for many adults, people like my mom have had trouble with them. The statin drugs gave my mom terrible aches and pains and she thought she was going to have to face a life with a walker or wheel chair. A friend mentioned that she had similar problems, so my mom went off the drugs with her doctor’s permission. After a few days she felt like herself. Now she manages her cholesterol with diet and exercise. For a lady who’s 76, she manages to walk every day and play tennis 1-2 times per week.
Comment by On Being the Change I Wish to See on 15 July 2008:
Ditto. Kids today are over-medicated as it is. The reason they are all diagnosed with ADD/ADHD is they are being forced to sit still in class instead of having PE every day and two recesses to burn off that energy. Kids naturally have a lot of energy and it will come out no matter what you tell them to do. If I hear of one more “movie afternoon” at school, I’m going to scream. Why not “play outside afternoon”?
School food does need to be better, but that’s no reason to put kids on statins. I ate with my son a few times before I started homeschooling him and the amount of fat and salt wasn’t too bad, but the lack of fruit and veggies was appalling. After that I packed his lunch so he had healthy food to eat. He ate it, too, and refused to trade his fruit from junk.
Kids lack daily activity, sit too much in class, playing video games and watching TV or playing on their computers.
Lowering cholesterol does not lead to longevity. It seems being American is what kills us, not our cholesterol levels. We need a cultural shift back to a lot more activity and better food choices, not more medication for children or adults.
Great article and so timely,
Sherri
Comment by Teri Grdgon on 16 July 2008:
Sherri sums it all up. Kids are not active enough and eat too much junk food.
Comment by Victoria on 17 August 2008:
You tell them Bruce!
I am really happy to see a qualified medical professional speak up and tell the truth! I am so fed up with the way fake solutions are heaped upon society from the very ones that create the problems in the first place. Maybe children would not be so fat if the laws were enforced…and food was labeled correctly and parents could make better choices in the first place.
It is heart breaking that children are a target market for the “legal” drug pushers.
Thank you for providing us with up to date information and professional wisdom and understanding of the subject matter.
I look forward to reading your articles!
Victoria