Children Choked By Their Own Fat

By Dr. W. Gifford Jones

Monday, September 26, 2005

"Three year old child dies of heart failure due to obesity". This British headline recently shocked the nation. What an appalling situation when a generation of obese children may die before their parents. So what about fighting this problem with Britain's proposed "Red Light" approach?

Doctors at an English pediatric clinic report that they are seeing young children who need ventilator help while sleeping. It's hard to believe, but they're being choked by their own fat!

In the U.S. researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital studied 343 extremely obese children ranging in age from 5 to 23 with an average age of 12. They discovered that the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of the heart, was thicker, resulting in decreased blood flow and increased risk of heart attack. The heavier the children the greater their risk.

In Britain half the population of children will be obese in 15 years. This should send shock waves to parents and governments around the world. Obesity has long ago replaced tobacco as the number one public health problem.

Today it should be top priority to fight obesity in children as they almost invariably become fat adults. And here's the real shocker that no one really wants to admit. We obviously cannot cure obesity in adults so we must prevent it in children.

We all know the rare individual who beats obesity. But a report from the University of Pennsylvania shows the futility of the battle. Researchers asked a group of women starting a weight-loss program how much weight they wanted to lose. Their dream was 69 pounds, 32 per cent of their present weight. But they would be happy with a 55 pound loss and disappointed with 37 pounds.

But even under the guidance of university specialists, at the end of 48 weeks, 50 per cent of women did not reach the 37 pound goal. Studies show it's hard for adults to lose even 10 per cent of their body weight. As well, the majority of people gain it back.

Obesity is the perfect epidemic flaming another perfect epidemic, diabetes. These two diseases will not only terminate the lives of young children, but also eventually annihilate our health care system.

In Aboriginal children obesity and diabetes start at an early age setting the stage for diabetic complications. In Saskatchewan only 15 per cent of the people are Aboriginal but they account for one-third of those on kidney dialysis machines. In Manitoba they account for 91 per cent of lower limb amputations and 30 per cent of all hospitalizations.

Today diabetes affects five per cent of the population. This means that during the next 15 years the number of patients in Canada requiring renal dialysis and leg amputations will double. The number of hospitalized patients due to diabetic cardiac complications will triple. The costs are enormous.

British politicians are suggesting a "red light" system to attack obesity. Food would be labelled as either healthy or unhealthy. Physical activity would be compulsory in schools. And junk food advertising would be banned. This is simple common sense but I can't see it happening here.

At the recent World Health Assembly 192 nations agreed it's prudent to decrease the amount of sugar, salt and fat in the diet and increase the amount of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. We've known this for years.

But immediately Cuba and Brazil rushed to defend their sugar industry. Then a leaked report showed that the U.S. snack industry was working to protect its interests. As one financial analyst often remarks, "It's all about the money".

Governments should wage a major war against obesity, but fail to do so. So parents must protect children against these two epidemics. Substitute sugar laden cereals with fiber cereals and insist on them drinking milk rather than soft drinks. Buy whole wheat bread, increase the amount of fruits and vegetables, make helpings smaller and insist on daily physical activity. Remember, in this case, "It's all about the calories."

Never, never consider obesity and diabetes as minor diseases. If you do, it won't be too long before your newspaper headline reports "Three Year Old Child Dies of Heart Failure Due to Obesity".

W. Gifford-Jones M.D is the pen name of Dr. Ken Walker graduate of Harvard. Dr. Walker's website is: Docgiff.com

My book, �90 + How I Got There� can be obtained by sending $19.95 to:

Giff Holdings, 525 Balliol St, Unit # 6,Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1E1

Pre-2008 articles by Gifford Jones

Canada Free Press, CFP Editor Judi McLeod