Sunday, September 16, 2012

And the cycle continues


Type 2 Diabetes is now the most common form of the two types of diabetes, which obviously isn’t a big surprise to most of us.  The article “A Dire Sign Of The Obesity Epidemic: Teen Diabetes Soaring, Study Finds” discusses how not only are we seeing increases in obesity related type 2 diabetes in adults, but now there is a huge increase in pre-diabetic and diabetic children as well. It is extremely scary to think about all the health related problems of diabetes and obesity when you are thinking about your mother and your grandparents, but its terrifying when you begin to think about the consequences and long term effects obesity and diabetes can play on someone who is 10-15 years old.
As Ludwig says in the article: "It's one thing for an overweight or obese 55-year-old gaining an extra few pounds a year to develop diabetes at age 65 and then have a heart attack. It's a very different thing if the clock starts ticking at age 10," Ludwig says. "Children have so many more years to suffer from the consequences from these serious medical problems related to obesity.”
The article also goes on to talk about how many other diseases that are targeted mostly towards older people are starting to develop in children and young adults. It makes me wonder about the potential consequences. As we age we come to a sort of realization about the development of age associated illnesses and we learn to cope and handle the situations. However, when it’s your children, does that mean we need to approach the situation differently? How bad off will these now 15 years be when they are in there 50’s and 60’s? Will we have an increase in the amount of heart disease associated deaths in people in there 20’s?
The article then briefly discusses the role that obese mothers have on the future. The article suggests that overweight women who get pregnant will ultimately lead to another generation of overweight kids. This seems like never ending cycle to me.  This article does not discuss the importance of not repeating the cycle and having your kids go outside and play instead of watching TV and playing video games. In a society that is so computer friendly it helps keep our country on the path to obesity especially in our youth and contributes to lack of activity in a lot of Americans daily lives.


Listen or read the article below for more information on the topic
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/21/153030283/a-dire-sign-of-the-obesity-epidemic-teen-diabetes-soaring-study-finds

2 comments:

  1. Well, obesity itself is a problem, regardless of any age. However, childhood obesity is not showing a better outcome for healthcare costs. The fact that obesity has infiltrated into the pediatric realm is not looking good. Physicians already have trouble trying to deal with adult-onset obesity, and pediatric-onset obesity has now laid out one thing: it can happen to anybody.

    Unfortunately, obesity (and diabetes) is a consequence of political, social, and economic troubles that plague Western nations. Surely, there is an abundance of food in the United States. However, whether the food is of high-quality is currently at debate. Westerners, particularly nations in North America, will parallel quantity with quality. The author of this post (AprilO495) did point out that obese mothers do exert a prenatal and postnatal contribution towards childhood obesity. In the age of gestational diabetes, gynecologists and obstetricians do now have a role in offsetting the rates of childhood obesity. To worsen the issue, mothers (in an effort to keep their children fed and the wallets fat) give their children poor-quality foods. This induces a physiological and psychosocial harm. While the foods are clogging arteries and packing pounds, the fact that these foods are given by mothers ultimately gives permission for these children to have unlimited access to such foods that are rationed as a snack to become the childrens' meals.

    Many individuals have taken steps to directly or indirectly contribute to the fight against the evils of obesity. Schools are barely encouraging the idea of exercise and diet in the form of subsidized nutrition programs and physical education. Physicians have constantly told their patients to make lifestyle modifications and physical activity. Physical trainers and dietitians try to appeal to clients through alternative forms of physical activity and even "tough love", such as the notorious Michael Karolchyk, former owner of the Anti-Gym. Even pedagogues in colleges and secondary schools have told their pupils to really make better choices. However, in these times, it ultimately turns out to be an exercise in futility. Patients would rather take pills to address their problems, or cry out fat discrimination when physicians simply point out the obvious or when legislators put out legislation that can be viewed in extremes to be discriminatory. Fat activists argue that the gravity of such discrimination is ignored, but I think gravity has its hands full at the moment.

    Other nations, particularly Japan, have made considerable efforts to halt the obesity rates. Local governments are measuring waistlines and making efforts to encourage exercise through promotion of walking stairs, subsidized exercised equipment, and corporate nutrition programs. However, the citizens of Japan are held by a code of honor, not exactly something you would find in the United States.

    This all comes down to this: Maybe individuals should stop blaming all the other problems in the world for their falls from social grace. They should make considerable efforts to own up to the personal issues they have and improve themselves. The fight against obesity requires discipline, perseverance, and courage, not acceptance or enablers. Maybe, at these times, a little tough love can't hurt.

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  2. Very Well Written. Over-weight & obesity are just disease and can be cured upon proper consultation. God Know when kids will realize. High time parents realize and take action. To know how you can combat childhood obesity. Visit: obesitysurgerygoa.com or Call 744-779-4679 for free appointment/consultation.

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