American Academy of Pediatrics recommends obese children take weight loss drugs and get surgery, blames increased childhood obesity on 'structural racism'

For the first time ever, the American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending that obese children take weight loss drugs and receive surgery.

On Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics released its latest guidelines for treating childhood obesity — the first new guidance on the topic in 15 years. The AAP introduced a focus on pharmaceutical treatments as well as metabolic or bariatric surgery instead of prevention.

"These recommendations include motivational interviewing, intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment, pharmacotherapy, and metabolic and bariatric surgery," the AAP recommendation stated. "The approach considers the child’s health status, family system, community context, and resources."