Weight-loss surgery for morbidly obese adolescents has become more popular even though many questions about safety and effectiveness remain, according to a commentary published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Bariatric, surgery produces many benefits for most adult patients: they lose weight and can even have a complete reversal of diabetes. But less is known about the effects of the surgery on a young person who is just finished growing.
Several large and important studies are now underway to examine the risks and benefits of bariatric surgery on teens. Already, at least 1,000 teens a year are undergoing bariatric surgery in the USA despite the lack of long-term data on how the surgery affects them long-term. Until the data comes in from ongoing studies, doctors should tread cautiously in qualifying teens for surgery.
Source: http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-bariatric-surgery-teens-20111012,0,4705997.story
Showing posts with label adolescents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adolescents. Show all posts
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Hypotensive diet may prevent teen obesity
A study, published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, found that girls who followed basic principles of the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet through their teens had a smaller tendency to gain an excess amount of weight by the time they reached early adulthood than teens who didn't stick to this diet.
The DASH diet centers around high consumption of low-fat dairy products, fish, chicken, and lean cuts of beef, as well as nuts, fruits, whole grains, vegetables, and legumes. This is the diet that’s recommended by the US government in its dietary guidelines.
The research, which surveyed more than 2,300 girls on their eating habits during 10 annual visits beginning at age 9, found that those whose eating patterns were closest to the DASH diet had an average body mass index of 24 (considered a healthy weight) by age 18, compared with a BMI of 26 (considered overweight) for those who didn't follow DASH.
The diet plan boils down to eating mostly whole foods while minimizing intake of processed cakes, cookies, and chips. But it's not necessarily about reducing calories. Those in the study who followed a DASH-style diet actually ate, on average, more than 250 extra calories a day compared with those who consumed a lot more high-fat meats, cheeses, and junk food.
On the other hand, the girls who were better eaters were more physically active and watched less TV -- two factors that also help protect against obesity.
Source: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/blog/dailydose/2011/06/study_suggest_d.html
The DASH diet centers around high consumption of low-fat dairy products, fish, chicken, and lean cuts of beef, as well as nuts, fruits, whole grains, vegetables, and legumes. This is the diet that’s recommended by the US government in its dietary guidelines.
The research, which surveyed more than 2,300 girls on their eating habits during 10 annual visits beginning at age 9, found that those whose eating patterns were closest to the DASH diet had an average body mass index of 24 (considered a healthy weight) by age 18, compared with a BMI of 26 (considered overweight) for those who didn't follow DASH.
The diet plan boils down to eating mostly whole foods while minimizing intake of processed cakes, cookies, and chips. But it's not necessarily about reducing calories. Those in the study who followed a DASH-style diet actually ate, on average, more than 250 extra calories a day compared with those who consumed a lot more high-fat meats, cheeses, and junk food.
On the other hand, the girls who were better eaters were more physically active and watched less TV -- two factors that also help protect against obesity.
Source: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/blog/dailydose/2011/06/study_suggest_d.html
Saturday, 9 April 2011
BMI in adolescence, a substantial risk factor for obesity-related disorders
What you weigh in your teen years can have far-reaching effects on your heart health in the future, suggests new research.
The higher your body mass index (BMI) in your late teens, even if it is well within the normal range, the greater your risk of heart disease decades later, according to a large study published in the April 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
For every one unit increase in BMI in the teen years, the study found a 12 percent increase in the risk of heart disease around 20 years later. And, for every one unit increase in BMI, the study found a nearly 10 percent increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes, though this risk may largely be related to a higher BMI in adulthood as well.
Data for the study came from a large group of young men entering the Israeli army. The researchers followed 37,674 males from the time they were first examined for military service at the age of 17, until an average of 17.4 years later, according to the study.
Overall, men with the highest BMIs in their teens were 2.76 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and 5.43 times more likely to have coronary heart disease later in life compared to those with the lowest BMIs, reported the study.
However, when a normal adult BMI was factored into the analysis, the increased risk of type 2 diabetes disappeared, suggesting that weight in adulthood is far more of a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes than weight status in your teens.
But, the researchers found that the risk of heart disease was elevated whether or not someone was heavy in their teens or heavy as an adult, suggesting that extra weight at any age affects cardiovascular health.
Education on healthy lifestyle factors should start as early as possible in schools and at home, he said. Parents should make healthy eating and exercise part of the family routine. And, he said, it's important to start as early as possible.
The higher your body mass index (BMI) in your late teens, even if it is well within the normal range, the greater your risk of heart disease decades later, according to a large study published in the April 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
For every one unit increase in BMI in the teen years, the study found a 12 percent increase in the risk of heart disease around 20 years later. And, for every one unit increase in BMI, the study found a nearly 10 percent increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes, though this risk may largely be related to a higher BMI in adulthood as well.
Data for the study came from a large group of young men entering the Israeli army. The researchers followed 37,674 males from the time they were first examined for military service at the age of 17, until an average of 17.4 years later, according to the study.
Overall, men with the highest BMIs in their teens were 2.76 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and 5.43 times more likely to have coronary heart disease later in life compared to those with the lowest BMIs, reported the study.
However, when a normal adult BMI was factored into the analysis, the increased risk of type 2 diabetes disappeared, suggesting that weight in adulthood is far more of a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes than weight status in your teens.
But, the researchers found that the risk of heart disease was elevated whether or not someone was heavy in their teens or heavy as an adult, suggesting that extra weight at any age affects cardiovascular health.
Education on healthy lifestyle factors should start as early as possible in schools and at home, he said. Parents should make healthy eating and exercise part of the family routine. And, he said, it's important to start as early as possible.
Source: Serena Gordon, Health Day.
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