Editorial Team
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : August 28, 2015 10:09 PM IST
Diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure that people thought only a few years ago were common only among adults are now found to be crippling even the lives of some children. For the study, researchers compared fat cell composition and biology in lean and obese children and adolescents. Obese kids are more vulnerable to these diseases as researchers have found that when children become obese, beginning as early as age six, there was an increase in the number of adipose cells (fat cells). (Read: 3 risk factors most highly correlated with child obesity identified)
These were larger in size than the cells in the bodies of lean children. 'Obese children start to have not only more but also larger fat cells at a very young age. This is associated with increased inflammation and linked to impaired metabolic function,' said Antje Korner, a professor at University Children's Hospital at Leipzig in Germany. The researchers also found evidence of dysfunction of the fat cells in obese children which can lead to insulin resistance, diabetes and other problems such as high blood pressure. (Read: Inspire your child to go from fat to fit: Tips to tackle childhood obesity)
What's a healthy diet for children?
In order to ensure that your child is eating right, nutritionist Neha Chandna has devised a healthy meal plan for kids. 'A growing child needs all the nutrients in adequate amounts to promote growth and development both mentally and physically. Their diet must have foods from all food groups,' she says. Include the following in their meals:
With inputs from IANS
For more on childhood obesity, check out our childhood obesitysection. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.
