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The rate of childhood obesity has more than tripled since the 1960s, and today obesity affects over 20 percent of children. The rate of childhood obesity has more than tripled since the 1960s and today obesity affects over 20 percent of children. A variety of elements play a role in obesity, and sometimes eating healthy and leading an active lifestyle are not enough to counteract it.

Today, weight loss medications and even bariatric surgery are options for some children diagnosed with obesity. The available treatments depend on things like age and body mass index. But how do you know what’s right for your child?

In this episode, host Dr. Jennifer Arnold explores weight loss medications for children with Dr. Margaret Stefater Richards, a physician and researcher here at Boston Children's Hospital's Division of Endocrinology.