Currently, the proportion of overweight and obese teenagers in our country has reached nearly 1/5. Is obesity already a “sign” from the fetal period? Are weight loss methods commonly used by adults suitable for teenagers? Let’s find out below.
01
A severely obese 14-year-old adolescent
Various weight loss clinics across the country are seeing a peak in teenage patients seeking treatment
During the summer vacation, in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu
Many patients consulting for weight loss at medical institutions are mostly teenagers
Chengdu, Sichuan
A young patient, Niuniu (alias), came for a consultation
Niuniu, 14 years old, with a height of 161cm
Weighing 232 jin, the doctor found after examination
Niuniu has a BMI index of 44.7, classified as severely obese
There is also a black acanthosis nigricans on the back of the neck
High chances of concurrent metabolic diseases
Currently, the overweight and obese rate among children and adolescents aged 6-17 in our country has reached 19.0%
Equivalent to 1 in every 5 elementary and middle school students being overweight or obese
If effective intervention measures are not taken
By 2030, the detection rate of overweight and obesity in children aged 7 and above will reach 28.0%
What are the hazards of overweight children?
Doctors explain:
Obese children have a 3.9 times higher risk of developing hypertension and a 2.7 times higher risk of developing diabetes compared to normal-weight children; if obesity persists from childhood to adulthood, the risk of developing diabetes is 4.3 times higher than that of the normal-weight population.
Obese children experience disrupted neuroendocrine regulatory mechanisms, leading to early puberty, usually 2-3 years earlier than other children.
The rise in hormone levels accelerates bone maturation, premature closure of epiphysis, resulting in reduced growth in height during puberty.
02
Does the obesity crisis start during fetal development?
Reasons for child obesity include
Obesity can lead to conditions like high uric acid, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, sleep apnea, posing a threat to health
Research shows that the earliest formation of childhood obesity
can be traced back to the fetal period
Doctors caution
It is not true that the more a pregnant woman eats, the healthier the child will be
Controlling childhood obesity should start from the mother’s pregnancy period
What are the causes of childhood and adolescent obesity and overweight?
Experts suggest the reasons may be
Insufficient intake of two food groups
Excessive intake of two food groups
“Insufficient intake of two food groups”
① Inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables: School-age children (from 6 to under 18 years old) should consume 300-500 grams of vegetables daily, but in reality, the intake is generally less than 200 grams. Fresh vegetables contain vitamins and minerals and also increase satiety. Remember to include vegetables in every meal!
② Inadequate intake of coarse grains: Whole grains and cereals are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, etc. It is recommended to combine them with refined rice and flour to lower body fat content. You can try making multigrain rice or cooking eight-treasure porridge!
“Excessive intake of two food groups”
① Excessive meat consumption: Refers to meats with high fat content, such as braised pork, fried chicken wings, etc., should be consumed at most once a week. For low-fat, high-protein meats like fish, chicken, duck, they are recommended but avoid fried cooking methods.
② Excessive sugar consumption: Apart from direct sugar intake, there is hidden sugar, such as a bottle of cola containing about 53 grams of sugar, providing energy equivalent to about two small bowls of rice.
03
How to help “chubby children” control their weight?
Fasting and carb cycling methods are not suitable for children
Doctors advise
Children and adolescents are at a critical stage of growth and development
Weight management aims to reduce body fat while ensuring balanced nutrition to maintain normal growth and development
Weight loss methods commonly used by adults, such as fasting and carb cycling, are not suitable for children’s weight management
How to help “chubby children” control their weight?
Doctors suggest:
For children to lose weight, they need to ensure regular meals, control the total amount of food intake, consume 12 or more types of food daily, and at least 25 types of food weekly.
If a child feels hungry between meals, opt for low-fat dairy products or fresh fruits and vegetables with low energy density and high satiety to avoid high-sugar, high-fat, high-calorie foods.
Doctors caution
Weight management for obese children
Avoid blindly using weight loss drugs, foods, or beverages
Avoid extreme weight loss methods
Avoid chasing rapid weight loss in the short term
As these may disrupt the endocrine system in children
Damage bone development and limit intellectual growth
Weight management under the guidance of a doctor is safer and more effective
Source: CCTV Channel 1 WeChat public account combined with “Evening News,” “Oriental Time,” “Life Circle”
