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March 6, 2007
Our Obese Children
The rise of childhood obesity has coincided with the development of adult onset or Type 2 Diabetes in our youth. The statistics have been alarming but failed to illicit the type of reaction in me that this latest report from the New York Times evokes :
The number of U.S. children having obesity surgery has tripled in recent years, surging at a pace that could mean more than 1,000 such operations this year, new research suggests. While the procedure is still far more common in adults, it appears to be slightly less risky in teens, according to an analysis of data on 12- to 19-year-olds who had obesity surgery from 1996 through 2003.The data was taken between 1996 and 2003 and was presented in the Archives Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. The youngest patients were age 12.During that time, an estimated 2,744 youngsters nationwide had the operations. The pace tripled between 2000 and 2003, reaching 771 surgeries that year, the study found.
Although there are many individuals whose weight is a function of genetic background, the rise of childhood obesity can only be explained by lifestyle choices - decisions made by parents and the training given to kids in the early years. Apart from teasing, harassment, discrimination and physical limitations (e.g., in sports), these obese children have a profoundly greater chance of developing diabetes and heart disease early in life.
Nutrition if vital for our children and the stakes are quite high. Loving your daughters and sons doesn't mean giving them the foods and deserts that they want - it means teaching them how to develop healthy eating habits that will give them the freedom to achieve their dreams without the limitation and health risks related to being overweight.
Posted by Diabetologica at March 6, 2007 12:26 PM