American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
For Immediate Release Apr 28, 2008

OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS:  Claire LeBlanc, MD presented a featured lecture at the Rendezvous II meeting in Las Vegas. Her lecture entitled “The PPE: An Opportunity for Early Detection and Treatment of Obesity” provided information on how the Preparticipaton Physical Exam can be used to screen athletes at risk for obesity and identify those already affected with or without medical co-morbidities. Strategies for the management of these athletes were reviewed.

Eighty percent of obese children continue this trend into adulthood. According to Dr. LeBlanc, recent studies demonstrate that many young athletes are overweight especially high school football linemen. She advised calculating every athlete’s BMI during the PPE. In addition, special attention should be paid to the detection of medical co-morbidities such as acanthus nigricans (insulin resistance), abdominal tenderness or hepatomegaly (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) and hypertension as measured by appropriate size blood pressure cuffs. Dr. LeBlanc recommended that interactions with obese athletes be non-judgmental and supportive. Readiness of the athlete to change obesogenic behaviors needs to be assessed. Screening labs including a fasting lipid profile in children over 10 years of age, glucose, ALT, AST are advisable. Weight loss should be age appropriate with a reduction of no more than 2 pounds per week in adolescents. Consumption of healthy foods and the promotion of pool and strength training provide several advantages for the obese athlete. Dr. LeBlanc cautioned about the increased risk of exercising in the heat and the need to modify exercise and sport according the presence of specific medical co-morbidities. Dr. LeBlanc summarized her lecture by reminding the audience that prevention is the key to reducing the current rising rates of overweight children worldwide.

Claire M.A. LeBlanc MD, FRCPC, FAAP, Dip Sport medicine is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta, Canada

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) was organized in 1991 by physicians who recognized the need for an organization within the field of sports medicine that approached athletes, exercising individuals and teams comprehensively with consultative and continuous care of their orthopedic, medical, nutritional and psychosocial issues. Although sports medicine concepts are often thought of in conjunction with professional and elite athletes, these concepts apply to athletes of all levels including grade school, high school, college and recreational athletes. AMSSM is comprised of over 1000 Sports Medicine Physicians whose goal is to provide a link between the rapidly expanding core of knowledge related to sports medicine and its application to patients in a clinical setting.

NOTE: For more information, please contact the AMSSM, 11639 Earnshaw, Overland Park, KS 66210, (913) 327-1415.