Health Notes: Childhood obesity study Health Notes: Childhood obesity study (February 11, 2004)

Obese but otherwise healthy children ages 13 through 17 may be eligible to participate in a study that will test whether a drug believed to help kids with type-2 diabetes lose weight can also help children not suffering from the disease shed excess pounds.

The two-year randomized trial, which will be conducted locally at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, will test the drug metformin. The national study is sponsored by the Glaser Pediatric Research Network.

Participants will be given a glucose tolerance test to ensure they don't already have diabetes before being randomized into one of two groups. For the first year, one group will receive metformin and the other will take a placebo. Both groups will attend regular diet and exercise education classes. During the second year, researchers will follow the weight loss or gain in each group without medication.

Obesity is a growing nationwide problem among children, putting young people at risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and other health problems.

For more information about the study, call 724-7123 or 724-7119, or log on at www.med.stanford.edu/dped/.

Alzheimer's support group

A support group for family members and caregivers of people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease will meet on Wednesday, February 18, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the library of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 975 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park.

The group is sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. Participants share practical information, offer mutual support, and learn new ways of coping with dementia.

More information about the support group may be obtained by calling Sue Sheehan at 851-0296. Additional information about the association may be obtained by logging on at www.alznorcal.org, or by calling 1-800-660-1993.

Mental health service

San Mateo County Mental Health Services has launched a new Web site that provides comprehensive information about public and private mental health services in the county.

"Network of Care" will include news articles, access to an online mental health library, links and chat rooms, and other services.

The address is http://sanmateo.networkofcare.org.

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