Early habits may yield serious long-term consequences

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics show childhood obesity has nearly tripled in children and has quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.

One in eight preschoolers (12.5 percent) is already obese – as are approximately 35 percent of U.S. adults. The CDC states obese children are more likely to become obese adults and suffer lifelong physical and mental health problems.

A University of Colorado Cancer Center article published recently in the journal Gerontology demonstrated that even in cases in which obese children later lose weight, the health effects of childhood obesity may be longlasting and profound.

Dr. Mark F. Brown is a pediatric surgeon at Pediatric Surgical Associates in the Willis-Knighton Health System.

“Childhood obesity occurs very early.

In fact, many associated factors happen before birth,” Brown said.

“The percentage of 6 to 11-year-old children who are obese in the U.S. is about 18 percent. This is up from 7 percent in 1980. In adolescents the rate has increased from 5 percent to 21 percent during this time period.

“Genetics plays a significant role in childhood obesity, but it is also associated with large maternal weight gain, maternal smoking and gestational diabetes. Once the child is born, the pediatrician will use a growth curve to monitor the patient’s weight level in relation to his or her peers.

“The greatest causes of childhood obesity in the U.S. are high-calorie diets with large amounts of sugar and lack of physical activity. If the infant or child gains weight on the growth curve too fast, that is the first sign of impending obesity.”

The National Institutes of Health states childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term effects on health and well-being.

They claim that obese children are more likely to become obese adults and suffer later in life from:

• Coronary heart disease – the leading cause of death in the United States. As one’s body mass index rises, so does your risk.

• High blood pressure, which can damage the body in many ways.

• Stroke – Obesity can lead to a buildup of plaque in your arteries, leading to ruptures and blood clots.

• Type 2 diabetes – a leading cause of early death, coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and blindness.

• Abnormal blood fats, high levels of triglycerides, high LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and low HDL (“good”) cholesterol – increases risk of coronary heart disease.

• Metabolic syndrome – the name for a group of risk factors that raises your risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other health problems.

• Cancer – The risk of colon, breast, endometrial and gallbladder cancers are all increased.

• Osteoarthritis – Extra weight can put more pressure and wear on joints, wearing them away faster and causing pain.

• Sleep apnea – which untreated may lead to heart valve damage, potentially leading to:

• Obesity hypoventilation syndrome – Poor breathing results in too much carbon dioxide (hypoventilation) and too little oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia).

• Gallstones – may lead to enlarged gallbladder that doesn’t function well.

• Overweight and obesity-related health problems in children and teens.

Risk factors for childhood obesity, according to the Mayo Clinic, include:

• Diet – regularly eating high-calorie foods.

• Lack of exercise.

• Family history – Factors leading to obesity may be hereditary or environmental due to family habits that may be passed down to the child.

• Psychological factors – Some children overeat to cope with problems or deal with emotions and stress or to fight boredom.

• Socio-economic factors – Lowerincome families may be more likely to feed a child inexpensive, processed foods that may be more accessible and have a longer shelf life. These foods may be high in salt, fat and sugar and contribute substantially to obesity.

Brown said, “The best prevention of obesity is good sleep habits, a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables and a physically active lifestyle. Meals eaten at a table and not at the television are preferable. Diets alone are not a good fix for obesity at any age. It requires a change of lifestyle to remove excess weight and keep it off.”

To help combat childhood obesity, the CDC suggests parents and child-care providers can:

• Serve fruits and vegetables and other nutritious foods for meals and snacks.

• Be role models by eating healthy meals and snacks with preschoolers.

• Make water easily available throughout the day.

• Limit the time preschoolers watch TV or use the computer in child care and the home.

• Support and encourage preschoolers to be physically active every day.