Is America’s obesity epidemic slowing? A new poll found there more normal-weight Americans than overweight ones for the first time in more than three years.

Don’t get too excited, though – the Gallup and Healthways poll still showed almost 62 percent of Americans are overweight or obese.

“Although the majority of Americans are still overweight or obese, it is an encouraging sign that obesity rates are trending downward in the U.S. and among demographic subgroups,” Elizabeth Mendes, deputy managing editor at Gallup, said in a written statement.

Obesity epidemic slowing? What new poll says – HealthPop – CBS News

A type of obesity surgery, known as lap band surgery, is now being offered to teens in Colorado, according to a recent news release.

The Bariatric Surgery Center at Rose, one of the top lap band providers in Colorado, recently launched the Teen Obesity Weight Loss Program — a program aimed at improving the health of obese teens.

“This program’s main goal is to improve the health of young people who need help,” Dr. Michael A. Snyder, medical director for the Bariatric Surgery Center at Rose, said in the news release. “This isn’t just about having surgery, and it’s not some quick fix. Teens and their families go through months of counseling and classes before any surgical options are considered.”

Teen Obesity Weight Loss Program is a comprehensive, medical weight loss management program available for any young person wanting to improve weight and overall health.

“Being a teenager is never easy. Being a teenager in high school who’s had bariatric surgery isn’t easy, either, but going through high school overweight is a nightmare,” said Dr. Snyder. “We want to help these kids. We want to improve their health, extend their lives, and boost their self-esteem at the same time. That’s why this program is so important.”

The program’s team includes a nutritionist, an exercise therapist, and a pediatrician — all of whom have experience with patients receiving the gastric sleeve in Colorado. A psychology group with vast pediatric experience is also part of the team. Additionally, the program partners with pediatric specialists in pulmonary medicine, cardiac medicine and endocrinology, who can provide any specialized care the patient may need.

Obesity Surgery Now Available to Teens in Colorado | ThirdAge

Pregnant women who are obese put their children at higher risk of developing asthma compared to mothers of normal weight, a large study in Sweden has found.

The study, which covered over 129,000 mothers in Stockholm and their 189,000 children, found that mothers who were very obese, or with a body mass index of 35 and over, had a 61 percent increased risk of their children developing asthma by the time they were between 8 and 10 years of age.

“We found that there was a clear increased risk of childhood asthma, medication use and hospitalization with increasing degree of obesity and overweight in mothers in early pregnancy,” said lead author Adrian Lowe from the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and University of Melbourne.

Obese mothers put children at higher risk of asthma | Reuters