By Barbara Braman, CRNP

   Obesity – It’s far more than an issue of appearance.   In fact, recent studies have indicated that it might well represent the single biggest source of serious health risk and complications to young people today.

   Studies over the years have linked high blood pressure, dangerously elevated cholesterol levels, orthopedic problems, sleeping problems, as well as Type 2 Diabetes to childhood obesity.

   In addition, there are the potentially paralyzing social and emotional complications that frequently come with childhood obesity.  (Studies indicate that adults who were obese children were less likely to attain higher education, marry, or earn as much as their non-obese contemporaries.)

  Yet despite this ever increasing body of knowledge, incidences of childhood obesity have increased 50 percent in the last two decades; with 25 percent of U.S. children being considered “obese” by federal standards.  Interestingly, this alarming trend has taken place during a period of wide-spread availability of “fat free” or “low fat” foods.  The problem is that fat content is frequently replaced with higher sugar, starches and carbohydrate levels, which are quickly metabolized (leaving an empty stomach).  Furthermore, what is not actually used immediately as energy is stored as fat.

   There is little doubt that modern lifestyles of busy working parents, the proliferation of less than healthy prepackaged foods, and sedentary recreational choices have all conspired to create a dangerous environment for our children.  Good diet and exercise might be more of a challenge to maintain in our hectic modern times, but medical realities and their consequences still remain.

     As parents, we all want the best for our children.  As medical professionals, we at Pediatrics South are determined to make a difference.  We are pleased to embrace the efforts of our staff to support a weight management program.