The British Medical Journal recently reported on some new classification guidelines for obesity in the United States that could have health implications for children. The issue at stake is that the American Medical Association or the AMA is considering whether to reclassify the definition of obesity and some people feel that this will means that slightly overweight but healthy children will be known as medically obese and will vastly increase the number of children that officially suffer from obesity.

The BMJ also is concerned with the relationship between the AMA and the drugs industry as if the new proposal is agreed a much bigger segment of American children would be allowed to be prescribed obesity drugs and thus the financial incentives for the drug companies are significant. The report in the BMJ explains the links between the organisation that says that the obesity levels should be reclassified and the the drug companies that make obesity medications like the appetite surpressant Reductil made by Abbott and the fat blocker Xenical made by Roche.

The obesity organisation has replied to the accusations by saying that the relationship is there but it is highly transparent and that the funding is always disclosed and that its independence is defended rigorously. Opponents of the reclassification say that we must stop relying on drug companies to sort out the obesity problem and that old fashioned methods of dieting and exercise are the way forward and not the consumption of diet drugs and treating obesity as some sort of disease that needs a drug in order to be cured. Other opposition to the reclassification of obesity is that it will put many more children at the risk of being stigmatised, getting eating disorders and make them avoid physical activity.