The last few posts have encompassed a number of subjects related to obesity, which also seem to be related, to a greater or lesser degree, to each other. This one contains an assortment of odds and ends connected to those subjects.
That’s what the multifactorial concept is all about. Factors to the left, factors to the right, factors all over the place.
The metabolic syndrome is also known as insulin resistance syndrome and is a collection of characteristics rather than a disease. The thing to know is, it increases risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
The National Institutes of Health list five characteristics of metabolic syndrome, while the Mayo Clinic notes that criteria for diagnosis may vary, dependent on the patient (whether currently being treated with medication or not) having three or more of them.
The first is large waist circumference, defined as at least 35″ for women and 40″ for men (and those numbers differ depending on whom you ask). The second is a high level of triglycerides in the blood; the third is reduced HDL or “good cholesterol; and then, elevated fasting blood sugar and increased blood pressure.
Knowing that metabolic syndrome can be a predictor of cardiovascular disease, Swedish researchers decided to try to get a jump on it by looking at very young children. One thing they found was that waist circumference is a better indicator of metabolic syndrome than BMI. Also,
Based on the results of this study, a significant percentage of 6-year-old children exhibited abnormal metabolic profiles, including insulin resistance, which raised their risk of cardiovascular disease.
Last month, Otology & Neurotology published a report whose title says it all:
Adolescent obesity is an independent risk factor for sensorineural hearing loss: Results from the national health and nutrition examination survey 2005 to 2010
Hearing loss! Is there any body part or system not affected by obesity? Childhood Obesity News already talked about viciously assertive inflammatory breast cancer, which is strongly affiliated with obesity.
Very recent research, funded by the non-profit Susan G. Komen organization and published by The Journal of Clinical Investigation, concerned estrogen receptor (or ER+) breast tumors. It indicates that “obesity promotes the way ER+ tumors progress and become resistant to endocrine therapy through a protein called FGFR1.”
Here are a few of the takeaways from an EndocrineWeb.com piece: Obese children in weight-loss programs have a one-in-four to one-in-three chance of also being depressed.
A relationship exists between depression and screen time. Low income, no father, and obesity are also closely associated with depression.
The writer also reminds parents and medical professionals that “Many children and teenagers won’t talk about their feelings.” So parents are urged to observe their children to detect signs of depression. Now, if there is one thing young people tend to push back against it is the perception of being observed, surveilled, analyzed, and categorized. And the more interested adults try to hide the intrusive nature of their interest the worse the situation gets.
Another important point is, although there is an identified patient, the child or teenager, in the very vast majority of cases the whole family needs sorting out. Change and challenge are also discussed.
Your responses and feedback are welcome!
Source: “Metabolic Syndrome,” MayoClinic.org
Source: “Longitudinal birth cohort study found that a significant proportion of children had abnormal metabolic profiles and insulin resistance at 6 years of age,” MDLinx.com, 10/19/18
Source: “Adolescent obesity is an independent risk factor for sensorineural hearing loss: Results from the national health and nutrition examination survey 2005 to 2010,” MDLinx.com, 10/03/18
Source: “Susan G. Komen-funded research reveals how obesity impacts breast cancer treatment and patient outcomes,” WW5.komen.org, 07/26/18
Source: “Depression Is Common in Children with Obesity,” EndocrineWeb.com, 04/24/15
Photo credit: Valerie Hinojosa (valkyrieh116) on Visualhunt/CC BY-SA
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