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BALTIMORE – Rates of obesity, particularly severe obesity, in children have not decreased since 1999, despite what recent studies may say, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.

“Overall, there is no evidence of a decrease in obesity in any of our age groups,” said Asheley C. Skinner, Ph.D., of Duke University in Durham, N.C., adding that “we see a sort of consistent, ongoing increase up through 2014 for severe obesity and regular class I obesity for all of our age groups.”

In a video interview, Dr. Skinner discussed the findings of her study, in which data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from the years 1999-2014 were examined to determine obesity in children aged 2-19 years. A combination of body mass index (BMI) and “a percentage of the 95th percentile” of weight across three age groups – 2-5 years, 6-11 years, and 12-19 years – was used to classify children with class I, class II, or class III (severe) obesity.

Dr. Skinner did not report any relevant financial disclosures.

dchitnis@frontlinemedcom.com

BALTIMORE – Rates of obesity, particularly severe obesity, in children have not decreased since 1999, despite what recent studies may say, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.

“Overall, there is no evidence of a decrease in obesity in any of our age groups,” said Asheley C. Skinner, Ph.D., of Duke University in Durham, N.C., adding that “we see a sort of consistent, ongoing increase up through 2014 for severe obesity and regular class I obesity for all of our age groups.”

In a video interview, Dr. Skinner discussed the findings of her study, in which data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from the years 1999-2014 were examined to determine obesity in children aged 2-19 years. A combination of body mass index (BMI) and “a percentage of the 95th percentile” of weight across three age groups – 2-5 years, 6-11 years, and 12-19 years – was used to classify children with class I, class II, or class III (severe) obesity.

Dr. Skinner did not report any relevant financial disclosures.

dchitnis@frontlinemedcom.com

BALTIMORE – Rates of obesity, particularly severe obesity, in children have not decreased since 1999, despite what recent studies may say, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.

“Overall, there is no evidence of a decrease in obesity in any of our age groups,” said Asheley C. Skinner, Ph.D., of Duke University in Durham, N.C., adding that “we see a sort of consistent, ongoing increase up through 2014 for severe obesity and regular class I obesity for all of our age groups.”

In a video interview, Dr. Skinner discussed the findings of her study, in which data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from the years 1999-2014 were examined to determine obesity in children aged 2-19 years. A combination of body mass index (BMI) and “a percentage of the 95th percentile” of weight across three age groups – 2-5 years, 6-11 years, and 12-19 years – was used to classify children with class I, class II, or class III (severe) obesity.

Dr. Skinner did not report any relevant financial disclosures.

dchitnis@frontlinemedcom.com

BALTIMORE – For pediatric group practices to move toward comanagement to more effectively treat any mental health issues their patients may exhibit, the first step is to educate pediatricians about the benefits of comanagement, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.

“Pediatricians who had had at least 4 weeks of developmental behavioral pediatrics – or had targeted training on treatment for ADHD, anxiety, depression, behavioral problems – were more likely to comanage at least 50% of their patients” with mental health disorders, explained Dr. Cori Green of Cornell University, New York.

In a video interview, Dr. Green discussed the findings of her study, which consisted of 305 group practices in the 2013 American Academy of Pediatrics Periodic Survey, and the importance of education in teaching residents, trainees, and fellows about comanagement.

Dr. Green did not report any relevant financial disclosures.

dchitnis@frontlinemedcom.com

BALTIMORE – For pediatric group practices to move toward comanagement to more effectively treat any mental health issues their patients may exhibit, the first step is to educate pediatricians about the benefits of comanagement, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.

“Pediatricians who had had at least 4 weeks of developmental behavioral pediatrics – or had targeted training on treatment for ADHD, anxiety, depression, behavioral problems – were more likely to comanage at least 50% of their patients” with mental health disorders, explained Dr. Cori Green of Cornell University, New York.

In a video interview, Dr. Green discussed the findings of her study, which consisted of 305 group practices in the 2013 American Academy of Pediatrics Periodic Survey, and the importance of education in teaching residents, trainees, and fellows about comanagement.

Dr. Green did not report any relevant financial disclosures.

dchitnis@frontlinemedcom.com

BALTIMORE – For pediatric group practices to move toward comanagement to more effectively treat any mental health issues their patients may exhibit, the first step is to educate pediatricians about the benefits of comanagement, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.

“Pediatricians who had had at least 4 weeks of developmental behavioral pediatrics – or had targeted training on treatment for ADHD, anxiety, depression, behavioral problems – were more likely to comanage at least 50% of their patients” with mental health disorders, explained Dr. Cori Green of Cornell University, New York.

In a video interview, Dr. Green discussed the findings of her study, which consisted of 305 group practices in the 2013 American Academy of Pediatrics Periodic Survey, and the importance of education in teaching residents, trainees, and fellows about comanagement.

Dr. Green did not report any relevant financial disclosures.

dchitnis@frontlinemedcom.com

BALTIMORE – Children who exhibit only internalizing symptoms, which are often indicative of anxiety and depression, are less likely to be referred to mental health services than children who exhibit not only the same internalizing behavior, but also external and attentional behavior.

“Pediatricians now are doing much more about mental health; we’ve been energized about how this is an important determinant not only of the child’s present health, but the child’s long-term health, and how they function in the world,” explained Dr. Diane Bloomfield of The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, N.Y., at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.

In a video interview, Dr. Bloomfield discussed the importance of making sure children with internalizing symptoms are referred to the proper specialists, how electronic health records can play a part in children slipping through the cracks, and why educating parents is a critical step in addressing the needs of internalizing children.

Dr. Bloomfield did not report any relevant financial disclosures.

dchitnis@frontlinemedcom.com

BALTIMORE – Children who exhibit only internalizing symptoms, which are often indicative of anxiety and depression, are less likely to be referred to mental health services than children who exhibit not only the same internalizing behavior, but also external and attentional behavior.

“Pediatricians now are doing much more about mental health; we’ve been energized about how this is an important determinant not only of the child’s present health, but the child’s long-term health, and how they function in the world,” explained Dr. Diane Bloomfield of The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, N.Y., at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.

In a video interview, Dr. Bloomfield discussed the importance of making sure children with internalizing symptoms are referred to the proper specialists, how electronic health records can play a part in children slipping through the cracks, and why educating parents is a critical step in addressing the needs of internalizing children.

Dr. Bloomfield did not report any relevant financial disclosures.

dchitnis@frontlinemedcom.com

BALTIMORE – Children who exhibit only internalizing symptoms, which are often indicative of anxiety and depression, are less likely to be referred to mental health services than children who exhibit not only the same internalizing behavior, but also external and attentional behavior.

“Pediatricians now are doing much more about mental health; we’ve been energized about how this is an important determinant not only of the child’s present health, but the child’s long-term health, and how they function in the world,” explained Dr. Diane Bloomfield of The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, N.Y., at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.

In a video interview, Dr. Bloomfield discussed the importance of making sure children with internalizing symptoms are referred to the proper specialists, how electronic health records can play a part in children slipping through the cracks, and why educating parents is a critical step in addressing the needs of internalizing children.

Dr. Bloomfield did not report any relevant financial disclosures.

dchitnis@frontlinemedcom.com

BETHESDA, MD. – Alzheimer’s disease is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis.

As part of a large family of related dementias, it presents some diagnostic conundrums that often make for quite a tricky clinical picture. And with not a single objective diagnostic tool, Alzheimer’s is quite often misdiagnosed, Dr. Gwen Windham said at Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias 2016 Summit, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. The rigors of primary care exert an additional influence on accurate diagnosis, said Dr. Windham of the University of Mississippi, Jackson. These busy jugglers, who have to manage a host of chronic and acute problems, may miss subtle signs and symptoms of an emerging dementia during a visit.

Patients can be tagged with the Alzheimer’s label for years, only to eventually discover their cognitive problems stem from an entirely different disorder. Some, like dementia with Lewy bodies, are incurable and difficult to manage. But sometimes, treatable factors can cause cognitive troubles in “Alzheimer’s” patients. The challenge, of course, is sorting it all out before the years tick by, Dr. Windham said in a video interview.

msullivan@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @alz_gal

BETHESDA, MD. – Alzheimer’s disease is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis.

As part of a large family of related dementias, it presents some diagnostic conundrums that often make for quite a tricky clinical picture. And with not a single objective diagnostic tool, Alzheimer’s is quite often misdiagnosed, Dr. Gwen Windham said at Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias 2016 Summit, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. The rigors of primary care exert an additional influence on accurate diagnosis, said Dr. Windham of the University of Mississippi, Jackson. These busy jugglers, who have to manage a host of chronic and acute problems, may miss subtle signs and symptoms of an emerging dementia during a visit.

Patients can be tagged with the Alzheimer’s label for years, only to eventually discover their cognitive problems stem from an entirely different disorder. Some, like dementia with Lewy bodies, are incurable and difficult to manage. But sometimes, treatable factors can cause cognitive troubles in “Alzheimer’s” patients. The challenge, of course, is sorting it all out before the years tick by, Dr. Windham said in a video interview.

msullivan@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @alz_gal

BETHESDA, MD. – Alzheimer’s disease is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis.

As part of a large family of related dementias, it presents some diagnostic conundrums that often make for quite a tricky clinical picture. And with not a single objective diagnostic tool, Alzheimer’s is quite often misdiagnosed, Dr. Gwen Windham said at Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias 2016 Summit, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. The rigors of primary care exert an additional influence on accurate diagnosis, said Dr. Windham of the University of Mississippi, Jackson. These busy jugglers, who have to manage a host of chronic and acute problems, may miss subtle signs and symptoms of an emerging dementia during a visit.

Patients can be tagged with the Alzheimer’s label for years, only to eventually discover their cognitive problems stem from an entirely different disorder. Some, like dementia with Lewy bodies, are incurable and difficult to manage. But sometimes, treatable factors can cause cognitive troubles in “Alzheimer’s” patients. The challenge, of course, is sorting it all out before the years tick by, Dr. Windham said in a video interview.

msullivan@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @alz_gal

WASHINGTON – As the prescription opioid crisis rages, how physicians evaluate, define, and treat chronic pain is evolving.

“In the science books, there’s a definition of pain,” explained Dr. Patrice Harris, psychiatrist and chair of the American Medical Association’s Task Force to Reduce Prescription Opioid Abuse. But how individuals actually perceive pain in different situations is very complex. No matter what kind of measuring tool physicians apply, she noted, “pain is going to be personal.”

In a candid interview, Dr. Harris discussed the limitation of pain scales, the value of conversations between physicians and their patients, and the importance of cultural competency to alleviate suffering and avoid unintentional harm.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

WASHINGTON – As the prescription opioid crisis rages, how physicians evaluate, define, and treat chronic pain is evolving.

“In the science books, there’s a definition of pain,” explained Dr. Patrice Harris, psychiatrist and chair of the American Medical Association’s Task Force to Reduce Prescription Opioid Abuse. But how individuals actually perceive pain in different situations is very complex. No matter what kind of measuring tool physicians apply, she noted, “pain is going to be personal.”

In a candid interview, Dr. Harris discussed the limitation of pain scales, the value of conversations between physicians and their patients, and the importance of cultural competency to alleviate suffering and avoid unintentional harm.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight

WASHINGTON – As the prescription opioid crisis rages, how physicians evaluate, define, and treat chronic pain is evolving.

“In the science books, there’s a definition of pain,” explained Dr. Patrice Harris, psychiatrist and chair of the American Medical Association’s Task Force to Reduce Prescription Opioid Abuse. But how individuals actually perceive pain in different situations is very complex. No matter what kind of measuring tool physicians apply, she noted, “pain is going to be personal.”

In a candid interview, Dr. Harris discussed the limitation of pain scales, the value of conversations between physicians and their patients, and the importance of cultural competency to alleviate suffering and avoid unintentional harm.

wmcknight@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @whitneymcknight