130 Species, 187 Miles And Lots Of Energy Drinks: Inside The World Series Of BirdingPediatricians Endorse Weight Loss Surgery For Severely Obese Kids And Teens: 'It Changed My Life'

( CNN) Weight loss surgery has traditionally been viewed as a procedure for adults with severe obesity who haven’t been able to lose weight or keep it off. Now, pediatricians are calling for it to be more accessible for childhood and teens with severe obesity too.

The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that metabolic and bariatric surgery should be considered a safe treatment option for children and teens with severe obesity — and should be covered by insurance for young person. The AAP stimulated the recommendation in its first-ever policy statement on surgical treatments for children and teens with severe obesity, published in the medical journal Pediatrics on Sunday.

“This policy statement focuses more upon acceptance of — and access to — appropriate care than anything else, ” said Dr. Kirk Reichard, surgical director of the Bariatric Surgery Program at Nemours/ Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware, who was a co-author of the policy statement.

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130 Species, 187 Miles And Lots Of Energy Drinks: Inside The World Series Of BirdingPediatricians Endorse Weight Loss Surgery For Severely Obese Kids And Teens: 'It Changed My Life'
130 Species, 187 Miles And Lots Of Energy Drinks: Inside The World Series Of BirdingPediatricians Endorse Weight Loss Surgery For Severely Obese Kids And Teens: 'It Changed My Life'
130 Species, 187 Miles And Lots Of Energy Drinks: Inside The World Series Of BirdingPediatricians Endorse Weight Loss Surgery For Severely Obese Kids And Teens: 'It Changed My Life'
130 Species, 187 Miles And Lots Of Energy Drinks: Inside The World Series Of BirdingPediatricians Endorse Weight Loss Surgery For Severely Obese Kids And Teens: 'It Changed My Life'
130 Species, 187 Miles And Lots Of Energy Drinks: Inside The World Series Of BirdingPediatricians Endorse Weight Loss Surgery For Severely Obese Kids And Teens: 'It Changed My Life'