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New Clinician Guidelines for Obesity
Obesity currently affects around 1 in 5 children and adolescents aged 6-19 years in the U.S., a rate that has more than tripled since the 1970s.
In a
survey of more than 1,700 parents with children aged 4 to 18,
only 1 of 3 respondents felt they were teaching their kids healthy eating habits,
with convenience, price and fussiness over foods listed as parents' main obstacles in getting their kids to eat better. Though most parents understand they should provide healthy food for their children, parents may need help to make that happen.
The researchers noted that parents, and consequently their children, benefit from easy-to-understand information on how to identify packaged foods that are healthy, ideas on how to make kid-friendly recipes a little healthier, and practical suggestions on convincing picky eaters to try a more balanced diet.
Updated
guidelines for pediatricians and other child health-care professionals on obesity prevention include
- prescribing & supporting healthy eating habits like the avoidance of calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods and beverages,
- discouraging patients from constant "grazing," especially after school and supper, and
- encouraging parents to plan for regular family meals.
The guidelines also indicate that children and adolescents need to engage in a minimum of
20 minutes a day - and ideally 60 minutes - of vigorous physical activity at least 5 days a week.
Resources for Parents, Peds & other child health-care professionals
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New ex-officio ACPeds Board Member: Marcelo J. Lacayo, MD
Dr. Marcelo Lacayo attended medical school at the Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Faculty of Medicine, Mexico and is now a third year pediatric resident at Texas Tech Health Science Center in El Paso, Texas.
He was selected for this new position among an impressive pool of applicants from medical school and training fellow members of the College.
Married with two beautiful children, Dr. Lacayo values the irreplaceable contribution the traditional family makes to society and is
committed to the ACPeds mission to enable all children to reach their optimal physical and emotional health and well-being.
Welcome Dr. Lacayo
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Work with the Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) Team!
The APR team's greatest need is nurses that can help take calls. To save the life of the child, we are in a literal race against the clock. It is imperative that women are able to contact us, as soon as they change their minds.
If you are
interested in becoming an APR Hotline Nurse, please contact us at the non-urgent office line:
619-577-0997 or email your inquiry to
[email protected].
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Vaccine Update: 2017 schedule & more
The 2017 child vaccination schedule has been released and the schedule has changed some since last year.
The three-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) series has been replaced with a two-dose series for any individual who begins the series before turning 15 years old. In addition, after the last doses of quadrivalent HPV vaccine expire at the beginning of May, the only HPV vaccine available in the United States will be the 9-valent formulation.
The
live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) has also been eliminated, though most practitioners have already been aware of this change as it was announced in June of last year. To view the full schedule, please visit the CDC website or
click here.
Additional Vaccine Info
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Empowered Family Coalition of Utah
ACPeds recently signed onto a letter to Utah legislators in support of parental rights and the
protection of children from early sexualization. This letter was particularly for the purpose of expressing concern regarding
HB 215 Reproduction Health Education and Services.
This bill again introduces
Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) which is
highly esteemed by *Planned Parenthood & SIECUS as a
recommended source for public schools. CSE programs promote sexual rights to children at the expense of their sexual health. They have lessons on
masturbation and condom use; and they
promote abortion as safe and without consequences.
Research
shows, sexual activity poses
emotional, psychological & physical health risks
t
o children and adolescents
.
In addition to leaving out this vital information, CSE programs teach that sex with condoms is safe, leaving out that
condoms dont protect against syphillis, genital warts (HPV), pubic lice or herpes.
On the contrary and consistent with the public health prevention model for risk avoidance, SRA Education Programs teach children and adolescents
- how to identify healthy relationships & how to avoid or get out of dangerous, unhealthy or abusive relationships
- understanding and avoiding STDs
- setting goals for the future and taking realistic steps to reach them by developing good decision making skills
- information about contraceptives and their effectiveness against pregnancy and STDs
- practical ways to avoid inappropriate sexual advances
- why waiting until marriage to engage in sexual activity is optimal
When it comes to sex education, the developing adolescent brain needs to be given clear direction repeatedly. Choosing abstinence during childhood and adolescence is the only 1
00% safe, effective way for teens to avoid pregnancy, STIs and the emotional fallouts of teen sex. Please visit the informative ACPeds webpage
Sexual Risk Avoidance Education for more information on the dangers of CSE and the benefits of SRA education.
*International Planned Parenthood and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)
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March at a glance...
The month of March commemorates the following.
- Food insecurity: A pervasive, persistent threat to developmental, psychosocial health of children - Read More
- Children inherit 40% BMI from parents (50-50 split between parents) - Read More
Sleep Awareness Month
- Child & Adolescent Sleep Guidelines - Read More
- Tired teens 4.5 times more likely to commit crimes as adults - Read More
- Time Outdoors May Deliver Better Sleep - Read More
- Does vitamin D level at birth predict risk of MS? - Read More
- Kidney transplant success rates improve in children and infants - Read More
- Keeping Your Child's Kidneys Healthy - Read More
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New ACPeds Position Statement: Marijuana and Adolescent Risky Behaviors
Medical marijuana is now legal in 29 of 50 US states and recreational marijuana was legalized in Colorado in 2013. Marijuana legalization in Colorado has resulted in significantly
greater and more frequent usage of marijuana in adolescents and young adults. In addition, with legalization there is a perception of decreased risk of use by both teens and their parents.
This process of legalization is associated with an increasing trend for many risky behaviors in youth including binge alcohol consumption, extramarital sexual activity, and increasing use of narcotics.
A recent surgeon general's report suggests that how society responds to this substance use epidemic will be
a "moral test" for America--a moral test that will require parental education to provide a moral foundation that will help children avoid harmful, risky behavior.
The American College of Pediatricians agrees that efforts aimed at primary PREVENTION are essential to curbing substance abuse.
For more information and to read the full statement, please click the link below.
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Creativity Can Improve Mental Health
Creativity is a thinking process in which new and original patterns are expressed; and it is beneficial to both child and adult mental health.
Research shows that
creativity promotes cognitive development, helping children solve problems and address fears and uncertainties; and whether making music, creating art, writing or even dancing, creative engagement can
decrease anxiety, stress, and mood disturbances in children and adults.
Listed below are practical suggestions, supported by
research, for ways to foster creativity:
- Make creative resources, like free-time, reading material & art supplies, regularly available to you and your family. Recycled odds & ends like plastic bottle caps, corks, & even pine cones can be used to create mini masterpieces and works of art.
- Encourage mentorship for yourself and for your children, especially adolescents. Mentors push mentees toward new opportunities and help them discover their unique skills and gifts.
- Foster diversity in your personal and family life. Visiting museums as a family, engaging in conversation with different types of people and traveling are all ways to become more acquainted with diversity.
Creativity thrives in safe, clutter free environments and is enhanced by physical activity
so allow yourself and your children time to yourselves, avoiding screen time as much as possible, and make a regular effort to get outside and play.
For more information on parenting for creativity,
click here.
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"
To believe in a child is to believe in the future."
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**Cohabitation study & ACPeds featured resources of the month**
According to a recent
study that looked at cohabitation versus marriage in terms of stability over a child's first 12 years in more than 60 countries,
parents who want their children to enjoy the benefits of a stable childhood should marry rather than cohabit. Not only was the rise in cohabitation linked to an increase in family instability for children all over the world; but also, marriage was more powerfully associated with stability for kids than a parent's level of education.
These findings support the self-evident truth that kids thrive when their family life is stable; and when life is full of transitions, things start to unravel for kids.
Children, whether born prior to, during, or after parental cohabitation, are at increased risk for all of the following:
- premature birth & chronic health problems both medical and psychiatric
- school failure, lower education & behavior problems
- more poverty during childhood, lower incomes as adults & incarceration
- single parenthood, medical neglect & child abuse
- substance, alcohol and tobacco abuse
Researchers note that relationship transitions can show up as delinquent behavior and substance abuse, especially for boys while girls are more likely to experience an increase in sexual behaviors.
For more information on cohabitation for practitioners, parents and teens
Position Statements:
- Effects of Cohabitation on the Men and Women Involved: Part 1 & Part 2
Patient Information Handouts
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Special Interest News, Articles and Studies
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2017 National Meeting of the American College of Pediatricians
The American College of Pediatricians and the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) have partnered again for the second annual conference.
September 30 and October 1, 2017
The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, Trinity International University
Deerfield, Illinois (
15 minutes north of O'Hare airport in Chicago)
Come and experience a great weekend with like-minded colleagues.
There will be terrific speakers, CME, and good camaraderie.
Registration is now open: Click here for details and to register. Contact Lisa at ACPeds with any questions: 352-376-1877
Outstanding speakers, great fellow conference participants, and exceptional teaching are the commendable features of this conference.
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Practicing Physicians of America Convene on Capitol Hill
Exhausted by the liberties taken by unaccountable organizations at the expense of patients and physicians,
Practicing Physicians of America (PPA) is a coalition of doctors' organizations seeking to maintain the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship.
In recent
news, the coalition
convened in Washington D.C. last month at the Library of Congress Members' Room
to discuss the importance of bringing physicians together and to also shed a powerful light on issues that separate physicians from patients.
To read part of the keynote address delivered by pediatrician & co-founder Marion Mass,
click here
.
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Thank you to Dr. Patty June for edits to the newsletter.
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Begin preparing yourself to testify as an expert in state legislation TODAY
As a physician practicing in your state you ARE an expert in medical practice in your state.
Preparing your self to become an expert witness is something you can do months or years before the request. Please look over the list of
model legislation provided by Americans United for Life and begin to read about the topics that interest you. These model laws are often used as the basis for laws introduced in your state.
The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists (AAPLOG)
is preparing to put considerable time and resources toward equipping their members
to speak out in federal, state and local opportunities.
If you are interested in participating or helping to fund their Expert Witness project, please email [email protected].
There will be an Expert Witness Workshop at the upcoming
Matthew Bulfin Educational Conference
being held jointly by AAPLOG and ACPeds in the fall. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) lawyers will be presenting this workshop to help you.
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Societal Issues Affecting Our Children
Poverty, Asthma & ADHD According to the results of a national
study, the national prevalence of parent-reported asthma & attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is on the rise in the US. The researchers found that not only were
increases in asthma & ADHD prevalence highest among poor children
; but also, the disorders were far more likely to affect
uninsured children.
In general,
poor children are more likely to suffer from poor health and chronic conditions and studies show they are also at greater risk for social, emotional, and behavioral problems, including disobedience, impulsivity, and anxiety.
Oil, gas developments & childhood cancer
Children living in areas of oil and gas development may be at an increased risk for cancer as children and young adults between the ages of 5 and 24 with acute lymphocytic leukemia were 4.3 times more likely to live in the densest area of active oil and gas wells than those with other cancers, according to the findings of a recent
study. Oil and gas development in the US has grown rapidly over the past 15 years and this
industrial activity has the potential to emit toxic substances into air and water, including carcinogens like benzene.
These findings support efforts to keep industrial activity a safe distance away from homes, schools and day care centers.
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Conscience Protection Opportunity: Please Act
Our current ability to refuse to kill patients, born or unborn, currently rests on a law
called
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (
RFRA) which protects the ability of individuals to act according to their conscience
-
-the same law invoked by Hobby Lobby and the Little Sisters of the Poor in their successful challenge to the Affordable Care Act.
Together we can help strengthen our current conscience protections by urging our President to promote conscience protections via Executive order.
No organization or individual should be forced to participate in abortion, physician-assisted suicide or any other action that violates his or her conscience.
President Trump can sign a much-needed executive order that will protect every American's right to freedom of conscience.
To exercise your free speech rights and encourage him to do just that, here's what you can do to help:
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Call the White House at (202) 456-1111 and ask President Trump to sign the religious freedom executive order. The Administration is taking notice of the uptick in calls, so we have to keep the pressure on.
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Write an email to President Trump and remind him that there are 3 vital reasons he should sign the executive order:
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Fulfills his campaign promise to make religious freedom a "first priority."
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Protects religious organizations against being forced to provide abortion-inducing drugs.
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Defends faith-based charities (which provide over $ 1 trillion annually in benefits to Americans) from being punished by the government for peacefully operating consistently with their beliefs.
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Use social media, including Facebook and Twitter, to encourage your friends and family to reach out to President Trump with hashtag
#ReligiousFreedom or
#FreedomOfConscience.
We have a window of opportunity to encourage the President to follow through on his promise to make freedom of conscience a "first priority." So take a few minutes today to call, e-mail, post, and tweet for conscience protection.
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Patient handouts are available for download free of charge
on the
Handouts
page of the
Health Professionals
(and
Parents
) section of the ACPeds website. Available In t
he members' section of the website are
patient handouts
shared by other ACPeds practitioners
, some of which may be helpful to your own patients and practice. Contact the office to get the username and password for access to the
Member Hub
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Journal: Issues in Law & Medicine - available at discount
Barry Bostrom, Editor-in-Chief for the journal, Issues in Law & Medicine has again extended a discount to members of ACPeds for a print version of the journal. To subscribe for the discounted print version, you must send your $30 check payable to "Issues in Law & Medicine," directly to:
Barry A. Bostrom, M.Div., J.D.
Editor-in-Chief Issues in Law & Medicine 7700 N. 37th Street Terre Haute, IN 47805-1147
Any questions, call Barry at: 812-917-2897 (office); 812-249-4770 (cell)
or email him at: [email protected]
An online version of the journal is available for subscription but without the discount at $49/year for individuals: http://issuesinlawandmedicine.com/
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S
tart Saving at Our Online Store Now
ACPeds has contracted with a manufacturer to create on demand logo merchandise, high in quality without sacrificing affordability. These items are great for personal use as well as for gifts. Shop around on the ACPeds website at
ACPeds.org/health-professionals
/the-college-
store
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The
Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons Welcomes Submissions
The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons is the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS). Dr. Jane Orient, Executive Director of the AAPS, is pleased to consider original papers, commentaries and book reviews by members of the College. For manuscript requirements and author instructions, visit
http://jpands.org/.
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Stay Connected
Like ACPeds on Facebook and follow on Twitter to interact with members and to stay up to date with the College's latest news. Every week the College publishes a new blog on its website and a link to the blog is posted on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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