Treatment of pediatric obesity comorbidities simplified in new algorithm

PHILADELPHIA — A new set of guidelines for managing comorbidities associated with pediatric obesity, including dyslipidemia, thyroid conditions and vitamin D deficiency, has been developed by researchers at Washburn University School of Nursing, according to a recent presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

“One of our primary jobs — and possibly one of our easier jobs — is to identify children who are overweight or obese,” Bobbe Mansfield, DNP, FNP-BC from Washburn University, said in an interview with Infectious Diseases in Children. “Once we do that, there are certain things that we need to do to change the course of that trajectory. However, what we are not as quick to see is that our job of screening for pediatric comorbidities associated with obesity should begin at that time also.”