The Change Mariner

Childhood Obesity Programs Lacking

San Jose Mercury News:

By the time children are referred to a program such as Kaiser's, obesity has often taken a heavy emotional toll. More failure will hurt badly. Yet to succeed, they have to dramatically change the way they live, when, as children, there is much in their lives they don't control.

"We need to make it easier for families to control their weight,'' said Dr. Thomas Robinson, director of the Stanford Pediatric Weight Control Program at Packard Children's Hospital. "I think the blame should be on us -- health care providers -- for not providing better programs for them.''

Most youths trying to lose weight still have to go it alone. The handful of weight management classes for children in the Bay Area have waiting lists. Many who do land a spot in a program drop out, unable to stick with the diet and exercise requirements.

"The kids who make it,'' said Dr. Ann Froderberg, medical director of Kaiser's program, "they're strong kids.''