Obese children facing threat of chronic disorders

TARA WOMERSLEY
HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

THOUSANDS of children with rising levels of obesity could be living
undiagnosed with type two diabetes, leaving them at risk of entering
adulthood with chronic disorders such as kidney damage.

An expert in childhood obesity warned yesterday that type two diabetes
among children is far more common than paediatricians realise.

Dr Tim Lobstein, of the International Obesity Taskforce, said at least
1,400 obese UK children are likely to have type two diabetes, while more
than 20,000 will be living with impaired glucose tolerance.

To date, around 100 children have been diagnosed with type two diabetes,
with some still in primary school.

Type two diabetes is traditionally known as maturity onset diabetes because
it tends to occur in patients over the age of 40. However, it is becoming
increasingly prevalent in children.

More than a fifth of three-and-a-half-year-olds in Scotland are overweight,
with 8.8 per cent classed as obese and 4.5 per cent as severely obese.

Unlike type one diabetes, type two does not necessarily need to be treated
with insulin injections and in many cases can be managed with diet and
exercise.

Dr Lobstein, who has also had a letter published in the British Medical
Journal expressing his concerns, said: "Doctors need to be much more
sensitive to the possibility of children having type two diabetes. If the
incidence rate in the UK is anything like that in America, you would expect
several thousands carrying type two diabetes but remaining unaware of it.

"Type two diabetes can lead to kidney damage and the need for dialysis, and
retinal damage leading to blindness. It is also a high-risk disease for
heart attack and stroke.

"This is therefore a timebomb about to explode, as when children enter
adulthood they could have severe chronic diseases needing care throughout
their lifetime."

Next week an inquiry into obesity by Westminster’s health select committee
will report and make recommendations to the government.

Penny Williams, care adviser at Diabetes UK, said: "We already know the
number of children with type two diabetes is growing, despite the condition
traditionally affecting people over 40. At the moment there are around 100
reported cases in the UK but the numbers could be greater as the condition
is often undiagnosed for years.

"GPs need to be aware of the risk factors, if they are seeing very obese
children who have a family history of diabetes they should consider testing
for the condition. Unless we take action now to get our children eating a
healthier diet and doing more exercise, the prevalence of type two diabetes
in children will only increase

Neutron wrote:
TARA WOMERSLEY
HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

THOUSANDS of children with rising levels of obesity could be
living undiagnosed with type two diabetes, leaving them at
risk of entering adulthood with chronic disorders such as
kidney damage.


Maybe we just need to turn off their computers, video games,
and televisions and kick their little (big?) butts outside for some
exercise, The parents are just as bad as the kids and are
responsible for the kids getting adequate exercise and proper
nutrition.

BJ

Neutron wrote:

TARA WOMERSLEY
HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

THOUSANDS of children with rising levels of obesity could be living
undiagnosed with type two diabetes, leaving them at risk of entering
adulthood with chronic disorders such as kidney damage.

An expert in childhood obesity warned yesterday that type two diabetes
among children is far more common than paediatricians realise.

Dr Tim Lobstein, of the International Obesity Taskforce, said at least
1,400 obese UK children are likely to have type two diabetes, while more
than 20,000 will be living with impaired glucose tolerance.

To date, around 100 children have been diagnosed with type two diabetes,
with some still in primary school.

Type two diabetes is traditionally known as maturity onset diabetes because
it tends to occur in patients over the age of 40. However, it is becoming
increasingly prevalent in children.

More than a fifth of three-and-a-half-year-olds in Scotland are overweight,
with 8.8 per cent classed as obese and 4.5 per cent as severely obese.

Unlike type one diabetes, type two does not necessarily need to be treated
with insulin injections and in many cases can be managed with diet and
exercise.

Dr Lobstein, who has also had a letter published in the British Medical
Journal expressing his concerns, said: "Doctors need to be much more
sensitive to the possibility of children having type two diabetes. If the
incidence rate in the UK is anything like that in America, you would expect
several thousands carrying type two diabetes but remaining unaware of it.

"Type two diabetes can lead to kidney damage and the need for dialysis, and
retinal damage leading to blindness. It is also a high-risk disease for
heart attack and stroke.

"This is therefore a timebomb about to explode, as when children enter
adulthood they could have severe chronic diseases needing care throughout
their lifetime."

Next week an inquiry into obesity by Westminster’s health select committee
will report and make recommendations to the government.

Penny Williams, care adviser at Diabetes UK, said: "We already know the
number of children with type two diabetes is growing, despite the condition
traditionally affecting people over 40. At the moment there are around 100
reported cases in the UK but the numbers could be greater as the condition
is often undiagnosed for years.

"GPs need to be aware of the risk factors, if they are seeing very obese
children who have a family history of diabetes they should consider testing
for the condition. Unless we take action now to get our children eating a
healthier diet and doing more exercise, the prevalence of type two diabetes
in children will only increase

Things are out of hand! Practically every child I see now
is overweight and moms and dads keep driving them to
McDonald's. It's nutz.

Karen

Ignoramus23878 wrote:

In article , Karen Larsen wrote:

Things are out of hand! Practically every child I see now
is overweight and moms and dads keep driving them to
McDonald's. It's nutz.


I am curious, don't you think that you could give a child a reasonable
meal at McDonalds?

i
Almost impossible: the stuff is so laden with fat, salt, and/or sugar,
and the vegetable content is minimal. Not to mention that you could
feed the whole family for the price of a burger, fries, a McFlurry and a
coke, and they wouldn't be hungry again half an hour later!

--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Ignoramus23878 wrote:


Well, fat as such is not evil.

True, but foods from the group containing fats should not form more than
30% of your daily calorie intake, and pure fats in cooking oils, spreads
and the like should be used sparingly.

As for vegetables, they have salads.

I have seen them. What they call a salad contains less than a portion
of vegetable matter and cost a hell of a lot. You can get far more
salad in a mixed bag from a supermarket for less!


An McD salad is not bad at all.
See above. And it's a lot less fresh than making your own!

Ahanburger is also not the worst meal I can think of.

Nor me - but it's incredibly easy to think of a far better one on both
cost and nutrition!

Surely, fries and milkshakes are not all that nutritious, but you are
not forced to eat those.

No-one is forced to eat anything (and I never do eat MacDeadthings these
days), but we all need to eat to live. I'm all for making healthy,
tasty, and cost effective choices. And a shake made with skimmed milk
CAN be very nutritious, providing you with protein and much needed
calcium. Shakes made of pseudo milk and consisting largely of ground
ice and flavourings are not nutritious at all.

It can be very hard to get over early conditioning, and if you are
conditioned to believe that 'fast food' is the only way to get a quick
meal on the table, it's hard to get your head round the ease with which
a more healthy and nutritious meal can be made at home. I was brought
up in a household where fast food meant steak or salmon grilled, with
salad and potatoes from the garden. With that sort of menu my mother
could get a meal for six on the table in less than 30 minutes. I've
waited longer for a Macdeadthings burger that gave me killer
indigestion! I can get a pasta meal with fresh home made sauce on the
table in 15 minutes. Guess where I go for fast food? Yup - the kitchen!
--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

I am curious, don't you think that you could give a child a reasonable
meal at McDonalds?

i

You can if you want to. I don't know why people get all worked up over
McDonalds? They make what they make. If you like it go there, if not
don't. People go to ice cream stores, and that is not necessarily good for
you. Why not get all worked up over them?

Curt

Why not cut out the Mc Flurry order a chicken sandwich split it with your
child. If they want desert order a Fruit and Yogurt parfait.... that is what
I do. I share the fries with my husband and my daughter so a regular size
fry turns into less then a small each. Also I try to get juice or milk for
my daughter when we eat out.

Tori



--
Bonnie 3/20/02
Anna or Xavier due 10/17/04
"Kate Dicey" wrote in message
...
Ignoramus23878 wrote:

In article , Karen Larsen wrote:

Things are out of hand! Practically every child I see now
is overweight and moms and dads keep driving them to
McDonald's. It's nutz.


I am curious, don't you think that you could give a child a reasonable
meal at McDonalds?

i
Almost impossible: the stuff is so laden with fat, salt, and/or sugar,
and the vegetable content is minimal. Not to mention that you could
feed the whole family for the price of a burger, fries, a McFlurry and a
coke, and they wouldn't be hungry again half an hour later!

--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

In article , Kate Dicey says...

Ignoramus23878 wrote:

In article , Karen Larsen wrote:

Things are out of hand! Practically every child I see now
is overweight and moms and dads keep driving them to
McDonald's. It's nutz.


I am curious, don't you think that you could give a child a reasonable
meal at McDonalds?

Sure. As long as it's once in awhile, *any* meal is reasonable. In my family,
that's a once a month treat.

More often if the ordering is done selectively, like one of their salads (which
are actually pretty decent).

This demonization of McDonald's is just silly. It's the overall American habit
of *always* eating fatty stuff, and frequently snacking, which is the problem.
Which is an issue of individual behavior.

Banty

In article , Kate Dicey says...

Ignoramus23878 wrote:


Well, fat as such is not evil.

True, but foods from the group containing fats should not form more than
30% of your daily calorie intake, and pure fats in cooking oils, spreads
and the like should be used sparingly.

As for vegetables, they have salads.

I have seen them. What they call a salad contains less than a portion
of vegetable matter and cost a hell of a lot. You can get far more
salad in a mixed bag from a supermarket for less!

So, did the subject line say "children being impovershed by expensive (??) meals
at McDonald's"? I don't see the frugality newsgroup in any of the (too long)
list of x-posted 'groups, either.

OK, you can whip something up in your kitchen quickly. So can I. Oftentimes I
do. My family isn't anchored to our kitchen though. For meals out on the
road, I'm sure you can pack tuna fish sandwiches and run around with a cooler,
which would be fine, too (although my family doesn't - bleaaah ).

But - so what.

A sensible plan for eating allows for many kinds of eating, according to needs,
from a variety of sources. There's no need for EVERY meal to be maximally
nutritious and minimally expensive. It's the calories and nutrients in, over
time, balanced with energy needs, within budget, that counts.

Banty

exactly and that is why I never order a big mac.

Tori

--
Bonnie 3/20/02
Anna or Xavier due 10/17/04
"Ignoramus23878" wrote in message
...
In article , Tori M. wrote:
Why not cut out the Mc Flurry order a chicken sandwich split it with
your
child. If they want desert order a Fruit and Yogurt parfait.... that is
what
I do. I share the fries with my husband and my daughter so a regular
size
fry turns into less then a small each. Also I try to get juice or milk
for
my daughter when we eat out.

The other thing nice abvout mcdonalds is that you know how many
calories you eat. For example, a big mac is 560 calories.

i

Tori



Ignoramus23878 wrote:

In article , Karen Larsen wrote:

Things are out of hand! Practically every child I see now
is overweight and moms and dads keep driving them to
McDonald's. It's nutz.


I am curious, don't you think that you could give a child a
reasonable
meal at McDonalds?

i
Almost impossible: the stuff is so laden with fat, salt, and/or sugar,
and the vegetable content is minimal. Not to mention that you could
feed the whole family for the price of a burger, fries, a McFlurry and
a
coke, and they wouldn't be hungry again half an hour later!