Obese Girl, Age 3, Dies Of Heart Failure

Would any British readers care to convert the English weight
measurements into pounds & ounces?

Steve

-------------------------------------------------
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2984313
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12:43pm (UK)
MPs 'Shocked' by Death of Obese Girl Aged 3

By Lyndsay Moss, Health Correspondent, PA News

MPs spoke of their shock today at learning that a girl of three died
from heart failure because she was so overweight.

The Health Committee published a damning report on the UK’s obesity
epidemic today, with the Government, the NHS, food manufacturers and
advertisers all condemned for their inaction.

The committee warned that obese children could become the first
generation to die before their parents.

Their report mentioned the case of the obese child who died from heart
failure, as reported by Dr Sheila McKenzie, a consultant at the Royal
London Hospital.

The hospital runs an obesity service for children which, even though it
has only been open for three years, has an 11-month waiting list.

Dr McKenzie also described four children who required ventilatory
assistance at home for sleep apnoea who were effectively “choking on
their own fat”.

In her letter of evidence to the committee, released today, Dr McKenzie
warned that severe illnesses related to obesity, such as heart disease,
diabetes and hypertension, were likely to increase.

She wrote: “The only solution to childhood obesity is prevention.

“Availability of food high in sugar and fat must be reduced.

“Sport and other exercise must be brought back into the school curriculum.”

Dr McKenzie warned that obesity was the “biggest health challenge
developed countries now face”.

Today David Hinchliffe, chairman of the committee, said: “We were all
shocked when we heard about the young girl.

“I see in my constituency children who are grossly obese, but to hear of
a girl dying from heart failure was shocking.”

He added: “It was the first situation of its kind we had come across but
we feel it may become a more serious consequence of obesity in the future.”

The Daily Mail reported today that the dead youngster was a Bengali girl
from east London. She should have weighed around 2st 4lb but had a Body
Mass Index (BMI) which equated to around 6st.

The committee’s report made recommendations to kick-start action amid
gloomy predictions of a future where serious diseases caused by obesity
are common.

Not all the measures were welcomed by the food industry, while the
Health Secretary John Reid said individuals also had a major role to
play in their own health.

Their report points out that obesity has grown by almost 400% in 25
years, with three-quarters of adults now overweight or obese.

England has the fastest-growing obesity problem in Europe, with
childhood obesity tripling in 20 years.

The report calculates that being overweight or obese costs the nation
£7.4 billion a year.

The committee called for a voluntary withdrawal of TV advertising of
junk food to children.

But they warned that if action was not taken by the industry within
three years, the Government should step in to introduce more direct
regulation.

The MPs said a “traffic light” system should be introduced on food
labelling to show consumers the difference between healthy and unhealthy
foods.

Red would indicate foods high in calories, amber for medium levels and
green for low.

Committee member John Austin said today that labelling was crucial to
improving the public’s knowledge about nutrition.

He said there was a case for warning labels that said: “Excess
consumption of this food may make you blind or make you lose your legs.”

The NHS was criticised for not making the treatment and prevention of
obesity a top priority.

They highlighted examples of GPs being told to cut down on prescriptions
for obesity drugs and patients having difficulties accessing services.

The need for increasing physical activity in schools was highlighted by
the report.

The committee also said that schoolchildren should have their BMI
measured every year.

The report called for a Cabinet-level public health committee to oversee
action on obesity across departments.

Members of the committee criticised the “lack of joined-up solutions”
across Government, industry and society.

But Dr Reid said that while he shared the committee’s concerns, it was
not only an issue for ministers to worry about.

He said: “We recognise that these issues are not just a matter for
Government – they involve individuals and the choices they make, as well
as the food and leisure industry.

“However, we at the Department of Health are already working closely
with colleagues across Government including Education, Culture, Media
and Sport, Transport, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the
Food Standards Agency, to encourage and enable people to eat more
nutritious food and take more exercise.”
--
Steve
http://www.geocities.com/beforewisdom/

"The great American thought trap: It is not real unless it can be seen
on television or bought in a shopping mall"

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Would any British readers care to convert the English weight
measurements into pounds & ounces?

Steve


A stone (st) = 14 pounds.

2st 4lb = 32 pounds
6st = 84 pounds

Beverly - who isn't British but does have plenty of British ancestorsg


-------------------------------------------------
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2984313
-------------------------------------------------
12:43pm (UK)
MPs 'Shocked' by Death of Obese Girl Aged 3

By Lyndsay Moss, Health Correspondent, PA News

MPs spoke of their shock today at learning that a girl of three died
from heart failure because she was so overweight.

The Health Committee published a damning report on the UK’s obesity
epidemic today, with the Government, the NHS, food manufacturers and
advertisers all condemned for their inaction.

The committee warned that obese children could become the first
generation to die before their parents.

Their report mentioned the case of the obese child who died from heart
failure, as reported by Dr Sheila McKenzie, a consultant at the Royal
London Hospital.

The hospital runs an obesity service for children which, even though it
has only been open for three years, has an 11-month waiting list.

Dr McKenzie also described four children who required ventilatory
assistance at home for sleep apnoea who were effectively “choking on
their own fat”.

In her letter of evidence to the committee, released today, Dr McKenzie
warned that severe illnesses related to obesity, such as heart disease,
diabetes and hypertension, were likely to increase.

She wrote: “The only solution to childhood obesity is prevention.

“Availability of food high in sugar and fat must be reduced.

“Sport and other exercise must be brought back into the school
curriculum.”

Dr McKenzie warned that obesity was the “biggest health challenge
developed countries now face”.

Today David Hinchliffe, chairman of the committee, said: “We were all
shocked when we heard about the young girl.

“I see in my constituency children who are grossly obese, but to hear of
a girl dying from heart failure was shocking.”

He added: “It was the first situation of its kind we had come across but
we feel it may become a more serious consequence of obesity in the
future.”

The Daily Mail reported today that the dead youngster was a Bengali girl
from east London. She should have weighed around 2st 4lb but had a Body
Mass Index (BMI) which equated to around 6st.

The committee’s report made recommendations to kick-start action amid
gloomy predictions of a future where serious diseases caused by obesity
are common.

Not all the measures were welcomed by the food industry, while the
Health Secretary John Reid said individuals also had a major role to
play in their own health.

Their report points out that obesity has grown by almost 400% in 25
years, with three-quarters of adults now overweight or obese.

England has the fastest-growing obesity problem in Europe, with
childhood obesity tripling in 20 years.

The report calculates that being overweight or obese costs the nation
£7.4 billion a year.

The committee called for a voluntary withdrawal of TV advertising of
junk food to children.

But they warned that if action was not taken by the industry within
three years, the Government should step in to introduce more direct
regulation.

The MPs said a “traffic light” system should be introduced on food
labelling to show consumers the difference between healthy and unhealthy
foods.

Red would indicate foods high in calories, amber for medium levels and
green for low.

Committee member John Austin said today that labelling was crucial to
improving the public’s knowledge about nutrition.

He said there was a case for warning labels that said: “Excess
consumption of this food may make you blind or make you lose your legs.”

The NHS was criticised for not making the treatment and prevention of
obesity a top priority.

They highlighted examples of GPs being told to cut down on prescriptions
for obesity drugs and patients having difficulties accessing services.

The need for increasing physical activity in schools was highlighted by
the report.

The committee also said that schoolchildren should have their BMI
measured every year.

The report called for a Cabinet-level public health committee to oversee
action on obesity across departments.

Members of the committee criticised the “lack of joined-up solutions”
across Government, industry and society.

But Dr Reid said that while he shared the committee’s concerns, it was
not only an issue for ministers to worry about.

He said: “We recognise that these issues are not just a matter for
Government – they involve individuals and the choices they make, as well
as the food and leisure industry.

“However, we at the Department of Health are already working closely
with colleagues across Government including Education, Culture, Media
and Sport, Transport, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the
Food Standards Agency, to encourage and enable people to eat more
nutritious food and take more exercise.”
--
Steve
http://www.geocities.com/beforewisdom/

"The great American thought trap: It is not real unless it can be seen
on television or bought in a shopping mall"

Steve wrote:

MPs spoke of their shock today at learning that a girl of three died
from heart failure because she was so overweight.

This was really shabby journalism. First of all, it isn't clear how
having heart failure caused her weight gain. People with congestive
heart failure typically blow up from water retention.

Secondly, there exists a genetic defect that some kids have (I recall
seeing some UK kids profiled) that cause them to have an insatiable
appetite. Keeping a kid like that from becoming obese would be
impossible. It's not bad parenting, it's bad genes. These extreme
cases are rare, but it sounds like this might have been one of them.

And lastly, in true British Press Style, this article is incredibly
insensative to the feelings of a family that just lost a three year old.
It just wants people to point and jeer at them. There is no lesson to
be learned, no sympathy is created, it's just cruel while yanking the
reader's chain.

Dally

On Thu, 27 May 2004 12:57:47 -0400, Dally wrote:

Secondly, there exists a genetic defect that some kids have (I recall
seeing some UK kids profiled) that cause them to have an insatiable
appetite. Keeping a kid like that from becoming obese would be
impossible. It's not bad parenting, it's bad genes. These extreme
cases are rare, but it sounds like this might have been one of them.

This is called Prader-Willi Syndrome. If interested, see
http://www.pwsausa.org/Brochure/nowwhat.htm .

Chris