Study shows doctors need to address obesity in children

A new St. Louis University study says doctors need to do a better job addressing weight issues in hospitalized children. Study author and St. Louis University assistant professor of Pediatrics Dr. Marta King says doctors need to remember to treat the whole child and not just the condition that hospitalized them. About 90 percent of the time, King found that hospital doctors fail to address a young patient's obesity with either the child or parent. "If we notice that a child is admitted and they have either overweight or obesity, at least addressing that with that patient and family," King says, "and saying something, this should be something that you, at the minimum, should follow up with your primary care doc."