New medications that suppress appetite come with new physician guidelines for treating obesity. After being tested in teens, pediatricians are urged to treat childhood obesity with appetite-suppressing drugs starting at age 12 and weight-loss surgery starting at age 13. This aggressive approach can be a little startling, but the burden of obesity-related diseases is costly in terms of dollars and quality of life. And those who are obese in childhood are rarely able to escape it as adults. For instance, 80% of adolescents who are obese remain so throughout their adult lives.
With or without medication, the root causes of obesity are important to keep in mind. Parents are an integral part of the solution. They can teach their children what works for weight management and help them practice healthier eating. After all, when parents make concerted efforts to improve their nutrition, their children’s health improves, too. A parent’s weight changes predict their children’s. And families who eat better together may prevent future cases of obesity, because 70% of obese adults were not obese in childhood or adolescence, suggesting that children of all sizes should learn healthier eating patterns.
When it comes to the obesity problem, reducing added sugars can help. The average American eats three times the recommended amounts of sugar, and sugars displace more nutritious options. In some, sugary foods can even lead to more hunger. And during digestion, they rob the body of vitamins and minerals that are needed to metabolize them, worsening our overall nutrition. One of the most effective ways to reduce added sugars is by targeting sugar-sweetened beverages. 
Weight-loss drugs are soaring in popularity but are not a cure. The weight returns and their heart disease risk rebounds when medications are halted. Unless these prescriptions are taken regularly for one’s entire life, “ongoing treatment is required.” Addressing root causes delivers advantages way into the future, because consuming less sugar can become a habit that makes it easier to manage weight in the long-term.
Over 98% of American toddlers eat added sugars every single day, and the average sugar intake exceeds six teaspoons of added sugar. Overall, large-scale US studies show that obesity affects one in eight 2- to 5-year-olds, one in five 6- to 11-year-olds, and one in four 12- to 19-year-olds.
In line with the idea to tackle sugar intake, research has assessed children aged 7-15 to determine how sugary drinks influence obesity. Sugary beverages (fruit drinks sweetened fruit juice, fruit-flavored drinks and soft drinks) confer a 2.6-times greater risk of becoming obese compared to their peers who drank milk, water, or other beverages.
One study assessed obesity rates in children between 6 and 12 years of age. About 650 of them were followed for a year, with half the group given no suggestions and the other half encouraged to reduce their intake of sugary beverages. The results show that the control group continued to gain weight, increasing their obesity rate by 7.5%. In that same year, the group encouraged to reduce sugary drinks decreased their obesity rate by 0.2%. This suggests that soda may be a major contributor to body fat percentage. It is worth it to make the effort to cut down. 
Reducing added sugar is one area where all health experts agree, yet it’s not easy to get started on the path to improving daily habits. Treo provides support and encouragement to ensure members can make progress on their personal health goals. Weight loss is a common goal, and our members have the option of selecting habits to track and adjust, including their sugar intake.
Treo also provides short mini-lessons on sugary foods and drinks and other eating decisions led by registered dietitians. Members also qualify for free Wellness Coaching so they can work on goal setting and keep making progress as they eliminate their obstacles.
Many members also gain cooking skills and recipe inspiration from on-demand healthy eating videos. And we know that families need support, so video options also include kid-friendly guidance and recipes. Picky eaters? We have you covered. Your children find veggies unappealing? We share some secrets for success. Curious to learn more about Treo’s solution for health and wellbeing? Email us today at info@treowellness.com to learn more!
As Treo’s Global Wellness Researcher, Karlie uses recent research findings to support healthier daily habits. Karlie earned her doctorate in Neuroscience and Behavior and bachelors in Health and Exercise Science.
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