Weight loss drugs and surgery – for kids? Why new obesity guidelines is drawing scrutiny.

Faith Anne Heeren vividly remembers the day she first became aware of her weight. It was first grade. Nurses came to her North Carolina private school to

practice taking vitals, which included weighing in front of the entire class. Heeren watched from the back of a single-file line as each one of her classmates

stepped up onto the scale. After it was her turn, she suddenly she felt a hand grab her arm and yank her out of the classroom. Start the day smarter. Get all the news you

need in your inbox each morning. “They took me to a private room and told me if I didn’t focus on my weight that I was putting myself at risk for all these

health issues,” said Heeren, now 25 and living in Gainesville, Florida. “They sent me home to my parents after having this traumatic experience where my weight was being used

against me.” For the next 10 years, her mother took her to countless providers to seek help but they were always met with variations of the "eat less, move

more" response. Eventually at age 15, Heeren became one of the first teens to undergo weight loss surgery.  Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued

its first comprehensive guidance for evaluating and treating childhood obesity, recommending early and proactive treatment for children as young as 2. The new guidance suggests

doctors may prescribe weight loss drugs to kids 12 and older who have obesity and may refer teens 13 and older with severe obesity for weight loss surgery, though situations may

vary.