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That said, we have all heard of the obesity epidemic which faces America today. The number of children who are overweight and obese is unprecedented; however this epidemic is not America's alone. The 14th European Congress on Obesity, held in Athens, Greece, reported that one-half million European children may be facing health complications related to obesity. TOP Studies Show Childhood Obesity Issues on the Rise The number of children and adolescents who have diabetes is shocking. Now a third wave—the risk of cardiovascular disease—is on the horizon. This news comes to us from a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, led by Sonia Caprio, MD, which concluded that obese children, some not yet attending elementary school, are already displaying warning signs of cardiovascular risk factors that in past generations took years to develop. In her study, researchers found that 40% – 50% of children who were moderately-to-severely obese had metabolic syndrome.
Children's Future Requires Immediate Attention The compelling message from this study is that there is a dose response effect. For each step increase in body weight and obesity, you get an increase in cardiovascular risk factors. In other words, when kids eat poorly and gain more weight, they are more likely to be unhealthy. Many times, people will say that children will grow out of their obesity as they get older and taller, but unfortunately, for the 15% of children who are classified as clinically obese, this will not prove to be true. Treating obesity in children before puberty is important since the success rate is better than treating them as an adult. TOP
Waist Sizes Predict Metabolic Syndrome Measuring a child’s waist could be a simple way to identify kids at risk of metabolic syndrome. Waist circumference is a strong predictor for insulin resistance as well as the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. Below are some examples of risky waist sizes for children.
Healthy Diets Dramatically Decrease Disease Risks Positive lifestyle changes and smart diets are the simplest ways to decrease the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. The issue becomes more than just losing weight. Providing a diet with foods known to decrease excess body weight around the waist and improve the risk factors such as blood sugar control and elevated lipids, and the markers associated with inflammation is key. Research has already shown the protective effects of choosing healthy fats, such as those from olives, nuts, olive oil, avocados (known as the monounsaturated fats) and from omega 3 sources of walnuts, fish, canola oil, and flaxseed, and other plant oils over saturated fats and partially hydrogenated oils. Additional research also points to colorful fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains as part of a sensible eating plan. TOP Magnesium is a mineral which is needed in all cells. It is especially important for reactions which are involved in the balance between sugars and insulin. Studies of large groups of people have shown that a deficiency of magnesium increases the risk factors associated with type II diabetes and elevated blood pressure. In a recent study which reviewed information from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Program, found that higher intakes of magnesium were associated with a reduced risk for developing metabolic syndrome - including a reduction of the risk factors associated elevated blood sugar, a larger waist and lower level of HDL, the good cholesterol. The question is will higher magnesium intake prevent people from developing metabolic syndrome? Dietary sources of magnesium include wheat bran, whole grains, leafy green vegetables, meat, milk, nuts, beans, bananas, and apricots. Listed to the right are the magnesium contents of various foods.
Scientific literature is emphasizing that what is important for preventing and managing metabolic syndrome is not just the total amount of carbohydrate but the type of carbohydrate we eat. What does this mean? It refers to whether the carbohydrate is highly refined or naturally whole grain. For consumers who have relied on white bread and potatoes to meet their Food Guide Pyramid’s recommendation of 6-11 servings of bread, cereal, rice, and pasta per day, this may be a challenging issue. Foodservice providers can help by offering interesting menu options that are rich in whole grains rather than falling back on the old stand-bys. Researchers from Tufts University found that individuals who eat three or more servings of whole grains a day, especially high fiber ones, had better insulin sensitivity and were less likely to have metabolic syndrome. Whole grain intake has been shown to be inversely related to body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio for adults and adolescents. In an investigation based on participants from the Framingham Offspring Study which computed an average whole grain consumption of 8 servings per week to 20 servings per week of refined grain found astonishing results. As more whole grains were consumed, insulin levels went down. So did cholesterol levels, LDL levels, and the waist-to-hip ratio, which is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, successful food professionals are becoming more active in healthy eating programs for children and teens. It is necessary to look beyond the concept of weight loss as a cosmetic issue for children and take a look at smarter food choices and their combinations to achieve healthier children. |
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