Obesity As a Disease

Obesity As a Disease

Recently the American Medical Association announced that it was changing the designation of obesity from a 'disorder' to a 'disease.' While the two labels sound similar, they actually mean very different things to health care providers, insurance companies, and to members of the obese community.

At first glance, it’s a minor story, hardly worth mentioning, but in reality the AMA’s move is a symptom of a disease that is seriously troubling our society.

Obesity in children has tripled in the past two decades. Experts have warned that kids today may be the first generation in history to live shorter lives than their parents. Recognizing obesity as a disease will help change the way the medical community tackles this complex health issue.

Obesity is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes which impact millions of people. Even if an obese person does not currently display any other health problems, we know that obesity significantly increases the risk for other serious health complications down the road, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems and some forms of cancer. Addressing obesity before these complications arise will prevent future patient suffering.

I know whether obesity is a disease or an epidemic the general population will remain unaffected. But this rapidly rising obesity rates have led to a decrease in health and wellness and an increase in costs for treating obesity-related illnesses. We have to take steps to improve the health of our nation.

 “There is no magic bullet — no medicine — for obesity. The way out of obesity is to eat right and healthy and to move your body.”

Childhood obesity consequences

Childhood obesity consequences

Obesity among children and adolescents is emerging as a serious health burden. It’s a time bomb waiting to explode once these children become adults, making obesity one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century.

Childhood obesity is associated with a number of health problems such as hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and impaired glucose tolerance that were once confined to adults are now being diagnosed to children.

Likelihood of obese adolescent girls to suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, a syndrome of variable combinations of menstrual irregularity, acne with obesity and insulin resistance.

Childhood obesity is associated with significant other morbidities including gallstone, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, early puberty or menarche, eating disorders, skin infections, orthopedic disorders, asthma and other respiratory disorders.

To ensure that kids grow up fit and slim, parents need to be committed to building their health. We can't collude with our children when it comes to choosing between getting through the daily pile of homework that brings them close to scoring 99 per cent in their finals instead of spending an hour playing badminton in the park outside with them.

Please do think and act now

Is their a difference in obesity beginning in childhood and adulthood

Is their a difference in obesity beginning in childhood and adulthood.

Nowadays with multiple foods easily available, children and also adults hardly like to eat home food. The dietary habits have shifted from eating fruits, vegetables, whole grain preparation, milk and products to caloric dense (either loaded with fat or sugar) highly processed foods and drinks which just have calories and very less nutrition in proportion to the same.

The fat cell theory is one of the mechanisms that explain obesity in children due to overfeeding in early years of life. The fat cells are distributed throughout the body. The depot expands either by increasing the size of fat cell or by increasing their number. According to the theory the percentage of body fat is determined by the number of fat cells which is either influenced by genetic inheritance or eating habits.

The size of fat cells gradually increases if the energy balance is positive. If the energy or caloric intake continues to be high, cell number begins to increase. Once fat cells increase their number seems to be fixed and they cannot be lost even if weight is lost. In general, cells proliferate most rapidly from birth to 2 years of age and during the late childhood and puberty.

During childhood, chronic overfeeding leads to increased number of these fat cells. Fat cells once formed cannot be decreased. In the long run if positive energy balance (you take in more calories than you expend) continues, fat cells would keep increasing in size further leading to obesity in adulthood as well. Thus, good eating habits during childhood are of great importance.

This is the difference in  from obesity beginning in adulthood and childhood.  In adulthood, obesity begins due to increase in the fat cell size and in childhood the number of fat cells also increase.

So please pay attention to what your kids eat, they may not understand now but  will definitely thank you in future for developing healthy eating habits.