Child Obesity: Our Worst Fears Are Coming True

Our worst fears have finally come true. Overweight teens are dying from heart disease. Pediatricians have long feared that the rising number of severely obese children and teens would soon start to suffer from adult complications of obesity, like heart attacks, strokes, and death. And now it is happening.

According to the St. Louis County medical examiner, a 13-year old football player who collapsed during football practice died as a direct result of "hypertensive cardiovascular disease", also known as high blood pressure. This young man, Anthony Troupe Jr. died last August but the results of his autopsy were just released this Wednesday. The cause of death was hypertensive heart disease, which is known to be caused by obesity. Young Anthony was 6-foot-2 and weighed 383 pounds.

Unfortunately, this comes as no surprise to those of us in the child obesity specialty. In fact, a study published in the British Medical Journal and reviewed in the New York Times earlier this year found that obese teens were twice as likely to die by age 60 as non-obese, non-smoking teens. But it is one thing to think of somebody dying at age 60 and quite another to think of a child dying at age 13. It is just so sad.

Other studies have found similar results. A Harvard study followed teens over 50 years and found that obese boys were twice as likely to die from heart disease as normal-weight boys. In fact, they learned that obesity that starts in childhood or adolescence causes a greater risk of early death than obesity that starts in adulthood.

It is clear that heart disease starts at a very young age. As parents, we must protect our children from the deadly effects of obesity. Many look at obesity as an aesthetic issue. It is not. It is a disease. A disease that can kill. And we must treat it that way.

I urge any reader with an overweight or obese child at home to get help before it is too late. Children must work with physicians when starting a weight loss program. So call your pediatrician and get a referral for a child weight loss specialist. Do not wait.

 

Comments

[bookluver]

I have a daughter who is border-line obese. It is extremely difficult to find ways to help her through this problem. Recently however, I discovered Dr. John E. Mayer's latest book, "Family Fit," which points out the need for the entire family to work on things together- kids need support and encouragement. Dr. Mayer points out a lot of great fun activities and diets to use as a family.

http://nogginpower2.com/family_support_nogginpower.htm

[Patrick Dacre]

This is the next health challenge of our lifetime. Found this link from a new YT site, from J And J.

http://www.youtube.com/user/JNJhealth#grid/user/FC59192130138B98

Comments are open for your responses.

[LarryMatt]

A recent study shows that only 40% of primary physicians will speak with patients about weight even when they know that critical issues are involved. Why? Is it lack of confidence or lack of training? I think it is the profit motive. They want and need to keep customers and will not confront issues that many see as self-inflicted.

Our food industry (especially HFCS and soda) is partially responsible. Our government must accept the blame also because they subsidize cheap corn syrup and sugar laden products. Many neighborhoods have no large grocery stores with fresh fruits and vegetables. Only convenience stores with chips, soda, and pizza by the slice are in communities with low income. The kiss of death.

I believe in personal responsibility to a degree but our government must provide some assistance. Our health care system is broken and will not address the issues raised here. The current bills before Congress only address the process and who gets to be rewarded with taxpayer funds. Doctors should be accountable for results in counseling, prevention, and cures and not in operations and procedures.