MANILA, Philippines - Alarming. That word kept flashing in my brain as I was reading the latest American Heart Association (AHA) bulletin on the dangerous effects of childhood obesity.
The new study found that the thickness of artery walls of children and teenagers who are obese or have high cholesterol resembles that of an average 45-year-old.
The study focused on children aged 6-19 years old. Experts said it?s not yet conclusive. However, they agree that the method used to measure artery wall thickness is a reliable indicator of heart disease risk.
In an article published in the New York Times this week, Dr. Lee Goldman, a cardiologist who is dean of the faculties of health, sciences and medicine at Columbia University, said, ?The obesity epidemic in adolescents is the biggest adverse time bomb we?ve got going on in coronary diseases.?
In the same article, Dr. Geetha Raghuveer, lead author of the Kansas study, says she hopes all is not lost for the children involved in her study.
?A lot of these kids? arteries, even though they are in the early stages of atherosclerosis, are not hardened or calcified, not really advanced,? she said. ?There may be an opportunity to implement lifestyle alterations, be it exercise, be it diet or, perhaps, even medication.?
Guidelines
The American Heart Association has guidelines on how parents can help their children attain healthy weight.
Reducing caloric intake is the easiest change. Highly restrictive diets that forbid favorite foods are likely to fail. They should be limited to rare patients with severe complications who must lose weight quickly.
Becoming more active is widely recommended. Increased physical activity is common in all studies of successful weight reduction.
Parents who model healthy eating and physical activity can positively influence their children?s health.
Parents must be united in disciplining and implementing a child?s dietary restrictions. The yaya or other members of the household staff need to be briefed on the diet and exercise program. The program will fail if one parent will help a child cheat or not adhere to the restrictions set by the doctor.
If your child is obese there are many factors to look into. Look at yourself and check your lifestyle and eating patterns, look at the kind of relationship you have with your child.
I have seen many cases where the child overeats because he or she is trying to dull or mask a deeper pain. I have spoken to many students who are emotional eaters because they are verbally abused. Rule out the physiological reasons for the obesity.
If there are none to be found, then a lot of work needs to be done. To help your child, you must help yourself first, too.
Now here?s a great way to burn all those extra calories with your children. On Nov. 23, Unicef sponsors its annual walkathon, Walk On the Child?s Side at McKinley Hill in Fort Bonifacio.
?Walk on the Child?s Side 2008 is the perfect opportunity to get to know Unicef, its programs and the people behind it. All of the proceeds of the event will go Unicef?s education in emergency efforts, which is especially helpful to conflict areas such as Mindanao and those children who have been affected by typhoons,? says Vanessa Tobin, Unicef representative.
The event has 2k, 5k and 10k marathons. Prizes will be given to Best in Costume (for children) and Most Number of Family Members for the 2k walkathon.
For the 5k and 10k, awards for various age categories will be given. Many fun activities are in store for families such as inflatable playgrounds for kids, live music and booths selling Unicef cards and gifts.
Interested parties may register at ROX, Bonifacio High Street, The Fort. Early Birds pay only P250. You may also download registration forms at http://runrio.com Veteran race organizer and running coach Rio de la Cruz helped put together this worthy event.
E-mail the author at cathybabao@ gmail.com
