Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

The increased prevalence of childhood obesity and its associated medical complications mandates treatment, especially for those at greatest risk. The complexity of the etiology, and the inherent challenges of treatment engender a series of ethical concerns that will be reviewed. These include: the agency and responsibilty for a child��?s weight and weight change with treatment, aspects of obesity as a stigmatizing condition, implications of ethnic/racial disparities affecting obese children and families, consideration of child abuse/neglect, decisions related to bariatric surgery in adolescents, and treatment intervention research. Discussion of these will help develop a set of ethical guidelines for health systems and individual treatment programs.

Biography

Email :gsigman@lumc.edu