Back To School Health

By Danton Kono, MD

Back-to-school signifies not only a change in season but, for most children, a change in grade level. As in most changes, this requires a transition from old to new and for some, transitions are not easy.

Teenagers, for example, are often considered a "difficult" patient population due to the multitude of changes taking place in their bodies, minds and social environments. But it is these very adolescents who may benefit most from the listening ear of their physician. As a Pediatrician, I enjoy taking the time to sit and talk with my adolescent patients, trying to help them through a crucial part of life that can be both exciting and challenging. I feel that it?s important to understand the health of each child as a whole — to check for wellness of mind, family life and emotional development — not just their physical body.

So, as the leaves begin to fall and the backpacks begin to fill, our pediatric staff at MedClinic remains unchanged in our commitment to care for your children, teenagers and families for good health in any season.

In the lunchbox: what's best for your kid? Children come in all shapes and sizes. Very active, picky eaters or naturally slender children may need high-energy foods to meet their calorie needs. Less active or overweight children may need less calories, but similar good taste and nutrition. Matching foods to energy needs affects more than appearance. With rising rates of type 2 diabetes and high blood cholesterol linked to childhood obesity, your pediatrician can guide you if your child is overweight.