Shaping Futures: Pharmacy's Role in Pediatric Obesity

Recent studies indicate that nearly one in five children and adolescents in the United States are affected by obesity, setting the stage for a potential health crisis. As obesity rates rise in the pediatric population, so do other medical conditions and chronic diseases. They include asthma, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, gallstones and gallbladder disease, cardiovascular diseases, joint problems, menstrual abnormalities, metabolic diseases, and skin diseases. These conditions were more commonly seen in adulthood in prior decades. Not surprisingly, pediatric obesity leads to obesity in adulthood. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with a deep understanding of the diagnosis and screening, physical and mental burden, and available treatment options for obesity can make a significant difference in care and outcomes for this vulnerable patient population.