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Our pediatrician checked our teenager’s cholesterol and it came back high. What should we do?
~ Anxious parents
In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended routine cholesterol screening for all young people ages 9-11 and 17-21 years. Since then, we have seen many more young people screened for cholesterol problems, although overall screening rates remain low. Cholesterol is an important part of heart health, along with having a healthy diet, exercise, weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and avoiding all tobacco products. When doctors check cholesterol, it is important to think about all of these healthy heart factors. …
Weight-loss surgery for teens and young adults: A good option?
Bariatric surgery, commonly known as weight-loss surgery, can be a safe and effective treatment for a teen or young adult whose obesity has persisted despite all medical efforts, and who has complications of obesity. Dr. Camilla Richmond, medical director of the Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, answers common questions about weight-loss surgery at Boston Children’s. …
Summer movie safety: What parents of kids with epilepsy should know
If you’re headed to the movies over this holiday week, a word of caution about the popular Disney sequel Incredibles 2. Earlier this month, the Epilepsy Foundation issued a statement about the film, warning that some people have had seizures while watching the movie. In response, some movie theaters have posted warnings about the film. …
Sports specialization and injury risk for young athletes
In recent years, sports specialization has become a hot topic amongst both parents of young athletes and medical professionals. There are a lot of questions swirling around early specialization: When should my child begin to focus on just one sport year-round? Are there injury risks associated with specialization? Does specializing in one sport provide a significant benefit for their skill development?
While answers to these questions aren’t always straightforward, in a recent study Dr. Mininder Kocher, an orthopedic surgeon and associate director of the Boston Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine Division, found some compelling evidence of the risks of early sports specialization.