Give obese kids statin drugs, advises US pediatric group
Large sections of the pediatric community, not to mention sporting clubs and the dietary supplements and functional foods industries, have expressed concern at an American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) statement calling for obese children to be prescribed cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.
The move has stunned many pediatricians, one of whom stated the AAP should be embarrassed by its latest position.
They are critical of the AAP's seeming willingness to discount the potential of diet and lifestyle to combat obesity and ward off heart disease.
Why they'd recommend statin drugs (which have debilitating side effects) over more healthy alternatives like diet and lifestyle modification is beyond me.
It's bad enough that some time ago, the definition for high cholesterol was altered (by "experts" with ties with pharmaceutical companies) in such a way that the "normal" levels of cholesterol was lowered and thus making millions of adults instantly "sick" with high cholesterol so they can be prescribed with statins. Now they are including kids too -- without much scientific basis. Never have statins been tested on children.
What a way for drug companies to milk more money out of people who don't needs drugs in the first place. This is really sickening.
No comments:
Post a Comment