Home
>
Weight Loss
>
Obesity, Whats The Big Deal Part 4

Obesity, Whats The Big Deal Part 4

In this issue, I am going to focus more on some of the consequences of obesity, especially as it relates to children. Although this is focusing on children, think of how it relates to you. Also, if you have kids, what are you teaching your kids about health?

This growing problem is getting so prevalent; there are even articles which refer to the "obesogenic" environment of schools. What they are saying is that society has come to accept "fatness" in its populace and even in the kids. So much so in fact, that they have stopped building gymnasiums in some schools. Add to this the horrendous quality of some cafeteria foods and/or the vending machines dispensing nothing of quality.

There are movements abreast around the world that are aiming to rid the schools of the pestilence of junk food dispensing machines. Hooray for that! I recently read in the Ecologist that some people are waging a war against a major soft drink company with their own form of embargo. This company is not the only company that should be having an economic war waged against it. In general, we need to move away from the highly processed foods and move towards whole food consumption.

As has been mentioned in earlier articles, obesity contributes to a variety of conditions such as heart problems, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and more. One of these problems, high blood pressure (HBP), is now becoming a growing problem in children. HBP has also been associated with an increased risk of dementia. Studies have demonstrated that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as well as possibly dairy may be able to help with childhood HBP levels.

Overweight among young people has increased dramatically. Between 1980 and 1994, children and adolescents considered to be overweight increased by 100% in the United States. About 15% of 6 - 19 -year-olds are currently overweight and there are even greater rates of overweight among minorities or those who are economically disadvantaged. Overweight youth are more likely to be overweight as adults, and are more likely to have medical risks associated with cardiovascular disease than other children and adolescents.

Consequences of Overweight in Children and Adolescents

Health consequences related to overweight can begin in childhood or adolescence; overweight children and adolescents are at increased risk for various chronic diseases in later life.

The psychosocial consequences of overweight are also significant. This problem has been linked to social discrimination, a negative self-image in adolescence that often persists into adulthood, parental neglect, and behavioral and learning problems.

Common Medical Consequences of Overweight

? Hyperlipidemia: A group of disorders characterized by increased bad fats and decreased good fats in the blood.

? Glucose intolerance: A precursor of diabetes.

? Hepatic steatosis: The fatty degeneration of the liver. High concentrations of liver enzymes are associated with this and have been found in overweight youths. Weight reduction will help to normalize hepatic enzymes. Hyperinsulinemia also may play a role in hepatic steatosis.

? Cholelithiasis: The presence of stones in the gallbladder.

? Early maturation: Characterized by adolescents with a skeletal age more than 3 months in advance of chronological age, and is associated with increased fatness in adulthood

Less Common Medical Consequences of Overweight in Children

? Hypertension: Persistently elevated blood pressure occurs with low frequency in children. However, elevated blood pressure occurs approximately 9 times more frequently among children who are overweight compared to other children.

Acute Complications of Overweight

Acute complications of overweight are those that require immediate medical attention. Patients should be referred to a center that specializes in pediatric overweight where possible.

? Sleep apnea is the cessation of breathing lasting at least 10 seconds during sleep, characterized by loud snoring and labored breathing.

? Pseudotumor cerebri is characterized by increased pressure in the skull that causes headaches. It is a rare disorder.

? Obesity hypoventilation syndrome, also known as Pickwickian syndrome, may be a cause of sleep apnea, but this relationship remains unclear. Aggressive therapy is warranted for children with obesity hypoventilation syndrome.

? A variety of orthopaedic complications affecting the feet, legs, and hips can occur.

Management of Overweight in Children and Adolescents

Strategies used in a management plan for overweight are based on information obtained from the assessment. Weight loss is recommended only if complications such as hyperlipidemia or hypertension are identified or for children 7 years or older with a BMI-for-age at or above the 95th percentile. Otherwise, weight maintenance is recommended.

Individualized recommendations.

Each family has its own set of supports and stresses. Because success with weight management can be difficult to achieve, recommendations for change must consider the family's readiness for change, family support, financial concerns, and neighborhood characteristics (including access to play areas and grocery stores). Unless the situation is understood fully, recommendations for change may not be targeted appropriately.

Treatment should begin early, involve the family, and institute permanent changes in a stepwise manner. Parenting skills are the foundation for successful intervention, which includes a gradual targeted increase in physical activity and targeted reductions in high-fat and high-calorie foods.

So in the end, we need to focus not only on ourselves but the environments that are promoting this epidemic. As a colleague mentioned to me, to truly heal, the whole community must be involved. If we all sit back and wait for someone else to do something, nothing will ever be done.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Marshal Montgomery @ http://www.HealthyUnderstanding.com

References 1. The Bad News About Prevalence, the Good News About Treatments -- But Pay Attention to the Details, Linda Brookes, MSc ,Medscape Cardiology. 2005; 9 (1): ?2005 Medscape. 2. Overweight Children and Adolescents: Recommendations for Screening, Assessment and Management, Authors: Barbara Polhamus, PhD, MPH, RD; Diane Thompson, MPH, RD; Sandra L. Benton-Davis, BS; Christopher M. Reinold, MPH, RD, LD; Comm. Laurence M. Grummer-Strawn, PhD; William Dietz, MD, PhD 3. Prevention of Overweight and Obesity: Focus on Children and Adolescents, Patricia Markham Risica, DrPH, RD 4. Obesity, Jonathan Q. Purnell, M.D. 5.American College of Physicians Issues Guidelines for Obesity Management CME News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD CME Author: Charles Vega, MD, FAAFP All were sourced from medscape.com

Disclaimer: As always, check with your health care provider to see if this information applies to you. Due diligence is your responsibility. This information is meant to supplement your knowledge, not to replace your own decision making process or take the place of your health care provider.

This is a commercial newsletter provided free by HealthyUnderstanding.com. For weight loss and other health care products go to http://www.road2health.net. For a quick BMI calculation go to http://www.road2health.net.

This newsletter may be distributed in its entirety without alteration. If you wish to use it in your publication, a copy of your publication would be appreciated. Please send it to DrM@healthyunderstanding.com

Dr. M. Montgomery is the creator of http://www.road2health.net and is a practicing Chiropractor in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - 371 Kenderdine Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 3S5.

tidy up service Glenview ..

In The News:

Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.

New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.

FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.

New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.

OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.

Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.

New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.

DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.

Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.

Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Obesity, Whats The Big Deal Part 4

Weight Loss