New Research Says: Obesity In Young Children May Impact Liver Health

Saran Gill

, News

Obesity is becoming one of the unresolved concerns of the global healthcare system.

Obesity is a physiological condition that involves an excess of body fat that increases the risk of multiple health problems. According to the WHO, a person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese.

According to a recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics, obesity can have a negative impact on the health of the liver, not only in adults but also in children up to 8 years of age.

 

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Columbia University Medical Center’s latest study found that increasing the waist circumference after 3 years increases the likelihood of early 8-year obesity. Many of these children are starting to have markers for the non-alcoholic fatty liver.

More and more obese children are diagnosed with the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. While most parents are aware of the risk of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions, few are aware of the risk of severe liver disease, which can lead to obesity at a very young age.

Non-alcoholic fatty acids occur when too much fat accumulates in the liver and causes inflammation that leads to liver damage. The disease is the most common chronic liver disease in children and adolescents.

The most threatening aspect of the disease is that it is usually asymptomatic. However, the progression of the non-alcoholic fatty liver can lead to cirrhosis of the liver (scarring) and in some cases of liver cancer.

For the study, the researchers measured the blood levels of a liver enzyme called ALT: Elevated ALT is a marker of liver damage and can occur in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver and other liver diseases in 635 Children.

The results showed that at age 8, about 23 percent of the children in the study had high ALT levels. Children with a larger waist circumference (a measure of abdominal obesity) at the age of 3 years and those with a greater obesity gain between the ages of 3 and 8 years were more likely to have high ALT.

It was found that 35 percent of 8-year-old children with obesity had high ALT compared to 20 percent of those of normal weight.

According to the researchers, it is very important to consider the liver health of overweight children as soon as possible.

Best Way to Fight Obesity

One of the best ways for children and adults to fight against fatty liver is to lose an unhealthy fat. Keeping away from fried and processed foods, avoiding drinks and sugary products is also a need to better control obesity.

Change the refined carbohydrate sources for whole grains. Wholegrain is able to store all the nutrients that are processed in the refinery.

Whole grain products are very beneficial for people with obesity, foods like Ragi, Bajra, corn, and Jowar should be used often. They provide soluble and insoluble fiber as well as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are very important for a perfect state of health.

 

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