WNY Pediatric Gastroenterology is Preventing and Treating Child Obesity
by Daniel Gelfond, M.D. and Humaira Hashmi, M.D.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of children between the ages of two and five considered overweight has nearly quadrupled over the past few decades. Today 20 percent of toddlers are overweight, compared with just five percent a generation ago. The percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years increased from five percent to nearly 21% over the same period. In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.
At Western New York Pediatric Gastroenterology we emphasize that overweight and obesity typically result from ‘caloric imbalance’—too little activity for calories consumed, further compounded by genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. We are passionate about educating parents and children regarding the short and long-term effects of childhood obesity and providing guidance towards a healthier life style.
Immediate health effects:
- Obese children ages 5 through 17 are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
- Obese adolescents are predisposed to developing metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes and type-two diabetes.
- Obese children and adolescents are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.
Long-term health effects:
- Obese children and adolescents are likely to become obese adults, thus at significant risk for heart disease, type-two diabetes, stroke, osteoarthritis, and several types of cancer, including breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, prostate, multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- Fatty liver disease due to obesity is the most common cause of chronic liver disease and can lead to liver failure requiring liver transplantation.
Prevention:
- Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases.
- Dietary behaviors and physical activity of children and adolescents are influenced by society, families, communities, schools, child care settings, medical care providers, faith-based institutions, government agencies, the media, the food and beverage industries and entertainment industries.
- Schools can help by establishing safe and supportive environments, policies and practices that support healthy behaviors. Schools can also help students learn about healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.
Portion size:
- Help children with portion control and encourage self-serving.
- Check labels for number of servings per container. Place the suggested serving size on your kids’ plates to show one standard serving compared to how much they normally eat.
- Teach children to recognize when the drive for high calorie snacks and seconds during meals can be replaced by increased water consumption.
- Develop techniques and activities to limit extra snacks.
At WNY Pediatric Gatroenterology we are passionate about helping children, parents and caretakers understand the effects of obesity. We say, “The younger your children the greater chance you have to influence their behavior, so be a role model. Eat healthy – be healthy. It’s good for you, too!”
Contact Drs. Daniel Gelfond and Humaira Hashmi to get you and your family on the right track at 585-250-4132. Both physicians are board certified pediatric gastroenterologists, and see their patients on weekdays and Saturdays. Learn more at www.wnypedgi.com and www.cdc.gov/oabesity.
