Understanding Childhood Obesity

Food is a powerful way to indulge a child; comfort, reward, showing love, but too much of the wrong food undermines health and causes excessive weight gain. Obese children and teenagers are 5 times more likely to be obese as adults, and health outcomes are stark: Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke and some Cancers. A major contributor to weight gain is the hormone insulin. Produced by the body in response to eating carbohydrates, insulin regulates blood sugar levels. Sweet foods, refined carbohydrates and drinks raise insulin levels in the blood, due to rapid digestion, and causing inflammation in blood vessels, organs and muscles. Eating the more fibrous, unrefined wholegrains, also carbohydrate, do not cause insulin spikes as they require more chewing and are slowly digested. Insulin, as a hormone, also signals the body to make fat, which are then deposited in the visceral tissues of the tummy and around organs. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) contain levels of sugars that drive up insulin levels. They displace as well as limit the desire for more nutritious foods, satisfying the appetite for short periods. Childhood obesity represents a type of malnutrition that continues to increase: excess energy intake coupled with low nutrient intake, and high blood insulin A whole family approach to weight management or dietary change can demonstrate collective effort, offer support and encouragement and a healthy model for appetite regulation.