With the CDC estimating that nearly 17% of U.S. children and adolescents are obese, the American Society of Anesthesiologists is offering tips for parents preparing obese children for surgery.

Pediatric surgery and anesthesia already pose challenges because children's airways are still developing. Those challenges are exacerbated when children and adolescents have a body mass index greater than 30.

"Obese children have extra tissue surrounding their airway, chest, and abdomen that can impair breathing while under anesthesia, and limit the amount of oxygen they receive during surgery," explains Mark Singleton, MD, chair of the ASA committee on pediatric anesthesia. "This can lead to a range of complications, including impairment of lung function and in severe circumstances even brain damage."

The ASA is urging parents to educate themselves about these risks and take steps to help their children lead healthier lifestyles. To prevent surgical complications, the ASA recommends that parents: