Overweight adolescent measuring waist circumference. A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveals that the incidence of obesity in children ages 2-19 is at an all-time high. This is a global trend. I have written about this topic before, but it deserves repeating. The purpose of this blog is to educate, to combat this trend, and to prevent future diseases through nutrition, starting at an early age. The Facts: The current rate of obesity in children is 20%

The last two decades have shown a surge in the cases of youth-onset type 2 diabetes. This used to be a disease of adults only and was called adult-onset diabetes, since it was not seen in children. It is now a pediatric disease. Type 2 diabetes in children is rising at a faster rate than type 1 and is a global problem. The word diabetes written on a chalkboard surrounded by a scale, glucometer, stethoscope, exercise equipment, and healthy foods. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is cause

What are obesogens?  The shocking link between obesogens and appetite  is something every family needs to understand. Obesogens are chemicals in our environment that are linked to obesity. They are thought to disrupt the actions of hormones in regulating our metabolism and appetite and are considered endocrine disruptors. (See previous articles on endocrine disruptors from March 15 and 22, 2023.) 3D model of a chemical compound. Obesogens are chemicals which act as endocrine

Discovering the secret behind Japan low obesity rates  started with a firsthand experience. I recently returned from a ski trip/medical meeting to Japan. We were on the island of Hokkaido, which receives the most snowfall in Japan. They set records this year, over 10 feet of snow! Besides the snow and powder, I was impressed by the lack of obesity where we traveled. Out of 8 days of travel and seeing thousands of people, I could count on one hand the number of obese people I

Cancer trends in the young are deeply concerning. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 4.2% of all new cancer cases this year will occur in adolescents and young adults ages 15-39.    The word cancer in colored letters between a stethoscope and a paper cutout of a person next to a pill bottle. Cancer is on the rise in young adults. Younger adults are the only age group showing an increase in cancer incidence from 1995 to 2020. The cancer rate in this age group has ri

Did you know that fatty liver disease occurs in kids? In the past, we thought that fatty liver disease occurred from alcohol abuse and only happened in adults. Now we know better! Plastic model of the inside of the human body showing the liver (brown organ). We have a newer term - nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - to distinguish it from alcohol causes. Now, there is an even newer term - MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease). I will use NAFL

Understanding your child's growth tracking  is one of the most important aspects of monitoring your child's overall health. You are likely familiar with growth charts and have been told of your infant's and child's growth percentiles. These are critical pieces of information in following a child's health and child's growth tracking  parameters are checked and plotted at each well child visit at every age. Young girl being measured by her doctor at her annual checkup. I freque

The final article in the series this month outlines further ways to improve eating habits to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes in children. In addition to this article, please see the blog from 5/8/24, ”Improving the Nutrient Density of Meals.” https://www.feedfuturehealth.com/blog/search/improving-the-nutrient-density-of-meals First and foremost, decrease or eliminate sugar-sweetened beverages. These account for almost half of the sugar consumption in this country. 1. Wa

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in youth has grown over the past thirty years. In this country, 4 in 1000 adolescents, ages...

This is the second of four articles that discuss combating childhood obesity. Today begins with how we can change this trajectory. First,...

The word obesity spelled out in wooden block letters. This is the first article in a series that will focus on the childhood obesity...

Last week, I discussed what type 2 diabetes is and some of the risk factors and causes; this article outlines what you can do about it and preventive measures. Parents are the ones who are in charge of making changes that are good for the entire family. Children who are overweight, especially those with insulin resistance, are at risk for progressing to T2D. You cannot change your inherited factors, but you can change lifestyle factors. You also can control what you purchase

Since November is American Diabetes Month, this week and next will pertain to this timely topic. One of the reasons I started this blog...

During my three decades of practice, I witnessed the evolution of a frightening trend - the appearance of adult diseases in children never before seen. These are diseases that typically did not present until the fourth, fifth, or sixth decade of life; we began seeing them in the first two decades. Why is this frightening? If these diseases develop in childhood, they will already have complications and more severe disease by adulthood. An obese child is at high risk for obesit

Make 2023 the Year of Healthy Eating! Eating healthy does not have to be difficult or expensive. Making simple substitutions goes a long...

The Mediterranean Diet (MD) has consistently ranked as one of the healthiest, most sustainable diets, beneficial for heart health, and...

(The Chicken or the Egg?) The “Please Don"t Eat” sign on this refrigerator is less important than what is inside. It has long been...

An Endocrinologist Perspective As a pediatric endocrinologist, I frequently evaluated growth. Most commonly, there was concern regarding...

Sugar can be tasty but too much is toxic Now that you have ideas for healthy sweet treats from last week, I will tell you the dangers of too much sugar this week. Most of us are pretty sweet on sugar, but research reveals a bittersweet reality! Sugar occurs naturally in any food that contains carbohydrates - fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy. Consuming these natural forms of sugar are healthy since these types of food also contain fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minera

We have been in an obesity epidemic in pediatrics, thirty years in the making - the same amount of time I was in practice. I watched this...