As everyone may know, if the human body is excessively obese, it may trigger diseases such as high uric acid, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, high blood sugar, and sleep apnea, severely threatening health. According to reports, the proportion of obese and overweight adolescents in China has reached nearly one-fifth. So, what physical and mental impacts will excess weight have on adolescents? How can we help adolescents control obesity and lose weight?
Unhealthy diet and lack of exercise lead to severe obesity in 14-year-olds.
At the Obesity and Metabolic Diseases Center of the Third People’s Hospital in Chengdu, the reporter met a young patient named Niu Niu who came for treatment. Niu Niu is 14 years old, 161cm tall, and weighs 232 catties. Niu Niu’s grandmother told the reporter that Niu Niu usually likes to eat noodles, fried foods, milk tea, and prefers to stay at home, rarely exercising. After examination, doctors found that Niu Niu’s BMI index is 44.7, classified as severe obesity. The skin on the back of his neck also shows signs of acanthosis nigricans, indicating that Niu Niu may have metabolic diseases.
Dr. Yang Huawu, an attending physician at the Obesity and Metabolic Diseases Center of the Third People’s Hospital in Chengdu: This 14-year-old child, through our examination, was found to have significantly elevated uric acid, increased blood lipids, signs of fatty liver, and some insulin resistance. During this summer vacation, there are many children like him, especially those overweight adolescents with metabolic diseases, who should actively seek systemic diagnosis and treatment.
Summer is approaching, “chubby kids” flocking to weight loss clinics nationwide.
Reports have discovered that as summer approaches, weight loss clinics in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and other places have seen mostly young patients seeking advice on weight loss. Currently, the rate of overweight and obesity among 6-17 year old children in China has reached 19.0%, which means one in every five elementary and middle school students is overweight or obese. Without effective intervention measures, by 2030, the detection rate of overweight and obesity in children aged 7 and above will likely reach 28.0%.
Dr. Zhao Yanjun, Deputy Chief Physician of the Children’s Health Department at Shanghai Children’s Hospital: Obese children are 3.9 times more likely to develop hypertension and 2.7 times more likely to develop diabetes compared to normal-weight children. If obesity persists from childhood into adulthood, the risk of developing diabetes is 4.3 times higher than in the normal-weight population. Additionally, the neuroendocrine regulation mechanism in obese children is disrupted, leading to early puberty, usually 2-3 years earlier than other children. Elevated levels of sex hormones can accelerate bone maturation, premature closure of growth plates, and reduce height growth during adolescence.
Doctors explain that excessive weight in adolescents can lead to a variety of diseases and also have a significant impact on their psychological well-being.
What are the reasons for overweight and obesity among Chinese adolescents?
Obesity may trigger diseases such as high uric acid, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, high blood sugar, sleep apnea, which ultimately pose a threat to health. According to current trends, if effective intervention measures are not taken, by 2030, the detection rate of overweight and obesity among Chinese children aged 7 and above could reach 28%. Therefore, the task of helping adolescents lose weight and control their weight is urgent.
The first 1000 days of life! The obesity crisis starts during fetal period.
As everyone knows, adolescent obesity can sow the seeds of future health risks in adulthood. But what many people may not know is: when does childhood obesity first begin? Research shows that the earliest form of childhood obesity can be traced back to the fetal period. So, to all prospective fathers, mothers, and future parents preparing to conceive new life, controlling childhood obesity should start from the mother’s pregnancy.
Experts from Beijing Maternity Hospital explained that among pregnant women who come for prenatal checks, it is very common to see patients with a pre-pregnancy BMI over 28 (obese). They are not only a high-risk group for gestational diabetes and hypertension, but also more likely to give birth to macrosomic babies (8 catties or more). These chubby babies embark on the “fast lane” of weight gain from the moment they are born.
With the establishment of nutrition clinics in maternal and child health institutions and the updating of public awareness in Beijing, the incidence of macrosomia has decreased from around 7% a decade ago to about 5%. In comparison, smaller cities still have a long way to go.
Different! The differences between weight loss in children and adolescents and weight loss in adults.
Today’s adults understand the importance of weight control, exercising for weight loss, and also acknowledge that weight control in children and adolescents is equally significant for their physical and mental development as well as future health. So, are there any differences between weight loss in children and adolescents and weight loss in adults? What misconceptions exist? Let’s find out.
Doctors emphasize that children and adolescents are in a critical period of growth and development. Weight loss goals should focus on reducing body fat while ensuring a balanced nutritional intake to maintain normal growth and development. Weight loss methods commonly used by adults, such as fasting and carb cycling, are not suitable for children and adolescents.
Dr. Zhao Yanjun, Deputy Chief Physician of the Children’s Health Department at Shanghai Children’s Hospital: Weight loss in children requires regular meals, control of total food intake, ensuring that children consume more than 12 types of food per day and more than 25 types of food per week. Moreover, if children feel hungry between meals, the additional food should preferably be low-fat dairy products or fresh fruits and vegetables with low energy density but high satiety, while avoiding high-sugar, high-fat, and high-calorie foods.
Avoid blind use of weight loss drugs, food, or beverages in children with obesity, and refrain from extreme weight loss methods to achieve quick results, as this may disrupt the endocrine system, damage skeletal development, and limit intellectual development. If feasible, weight management under medical guidance is safer and more effective.
Why should children and adolescents seek expert guidance for weight loss?
If there are overweight children at home who need effective weight control, parents must avoid blindly using weight loss drugs, arbitrarily reducing the child’s food intake, or adopting extreme methods for quick results. Especially for children and adolescents with underlying diseases or excessive obesity, seeking help from hospitals and medical experts is crucial to develop a scientifically sound weight loss plan under expert guidance.
Source: CCTV News
