The prevalence of obesity in the youth

By Mariam Faizal

Obesity is the condition that describes the accumulation of body fat which, ultimately, leads to multiple diseases: most notably that of the heart. It should be noted here that obesity is exceptionally present within the youth: one in every three children in the UAE is overweight/obese.

The reasons for obesity

Why is this so? Research indicates that obesity is on an upward spiral as a child grows older – experts conclude that teenagers have more freedom to choose what they want to eat, and opt for calorie-laden food such as burgers, take-out, and pizza. As well as this, there are fewer energy requirements needed by these children anyway.

Research also points out that there exists a link between obese parents and obese children. These children are likely to mimic the former’s bad eating habits.

Children may also become obese due to genetic factors – genes that manage metabolism, for example, may contain genetic conditions. These include Prader-Willi syndrome, in addition to Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

Socioeconomic status additionally plays a part in childhood obesity, with children of racial/ethnic minorities tending to become overweight.

Prevention and reduction

What should be done? Preventing and reducing obesity is quite simple. A basic step to be undertaken is that parents should begin leading a healthy lifestyle, which children must follow as well. Another step is the removal of junk-food vending machines in schools and places frequented by children such as arcades, which would account largely for the reduction of obesity.

Other practical steps include swapping sweetened milk for unsweetened milk, which nonetheless should be whole fat. Children should be weaned off of soft, caffeinated, and high energy drinks. A suitable replacement would be fresh fruit juices, and a detailed meal plan would be correct as well.  These should place the right emphasis on healthy forms of carbohydrate as well as fruit and vegetables. Video and computer games should be limited. Youths should be encouraged to play sports and other physical activities, and refrain from smoking and alcohol abuse if this is the case.

If these reparative measures are undertaken, children should likely lead a healthier lifestyle. Not only does this lead to longevity in life, it could improve the confidences and outlooks of these children as well.

Obesity and cardiovascular disease in the youth

By Mariam Faizal

Obesity and diseases of the heart go hand in hand, whereby the chances of cardiovascular disease highly increases as a child becomes overweight/obese. Furthermore, as many countries battle this phenomenon, nearly 20 percent of children in the UAE are obese. This is one of the highest rates in the world.

Cardiovascular diseases

The most prevalent of cardiovascular diseases are hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and an escalated chance of coronary heart disease as an adult.

Hypertension is the condition in which blood pressure in the arteries is escalated. Therefore, children are at higher risk of strokes, aneurysms, and chronic kidney disease. Hyperlipidemia, on the other hand, is when anomalous levels of lipids (fats) exist in the blood. This condition is one of the warning signs for diabetes as well. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of cardiovascular disease, and the principal cause of heart attacks. This condition is cause by the deposition of plaque on the walls of the arteries, thus restricting blood flow to the heart.

Other significant conditions include type 2 diabetes, and overly high cholesterol levels. These, however, until recent were thought to be only afflicting adults, and thus shows the deep research required by the links between heart disease and obesity.

What can be done?

The most obvious, and practical method of prevention is the regulation of satisfactory body weight levels. Children should consume 5 portions of fruit and vegetable daily at the very least. Therefore, this reduces the risk of hypertension by a critical amount. This is so very important, since the chances of dementia, heart failure, and heart disease are reduced alongside.

To lessen hyperlipidemia, lower cholesterol levels are of paramount importance. Children could die before the age of twenty if this disease gets out of hand. Therefore, symptoms such as Xanthelasma’s (yellow deposits of fat underneath the skin often presenting in the nasal portion of the eye) should be effectively identified for treatment.

Coronary heart disease reduction is to be tackled before it presents itself during adulthood. This is done effectively by: quitting smoking, practicing a healthy diet/lifestyle, treating hypertension –these two are linked- and, undoubtedly, exercise.

Exercising caution with food intake- children should eat healthy carbohydrates, and refrain from unnecessary junk food and thus prevent diabetes.

An awareness class

We, Aditi Naik, Mariam Faizal, Saher Hasan, and Saira Sara Simon taught a junior class about obesity and its related cardiovascular conditions on the 10th of February, 2014. There was an in-depth questionnaire session afterwards.