Lifestyle Disorders
- Medical Specialities
- Pediatrics
- Lifestyle Disorders
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Lifestyle Disorders
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Obesity
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Childhood obesity presents a significant health issue for kids and teens, often leading to adult health problems like diabetes, breathing problems, high blood pressure, and cholesterol. It can also take an emotional toll and can lead to low self-esteem and depression.
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However, not all children with larger-than-average body frames should be considered obese.
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Body mass index (BMI) is often the accepted measure of overweight and obesity.
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Some risk factors include:
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- High-calorie Diet
- Lack of exercise
- Psychological stress - Personal, parental, and family stress can increase a child's risk of obesity
- Socioeconomic factors - Families from certain communities with limited resources and access to supermarkets rely on convenient foods rather than healthy choices
- Certain medications
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By addressing and preventing childhood obesity, you can safeguard your child's present and future health.
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Type 1 diabetes in children
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Also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes is a condition where one’s body cannot produce insulin. The symptoms in children are often not noticeable and are diagnosed during routine check-ups.
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- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Increased hunger
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Darkening in some areas of skin, often around the neck, armpits, or groin
- Unintended weight loss
- Frequent infections
- Being overweight
- Inactive
- Unhealthy diet
- Family History
- Maternal gestational diabetes
- Underweight or preterm pregnancy
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It is crucial to not take the symptoms lightly as diabetes can affect nearly every organ in your child's body, including nerves, eyes, and kidneys. Its long-term complications unfold gradually over many years and may be severe or even life-threatening.
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Screen time
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For young children, especially those under the age of 3, development is rapid. At this age, kids learn by exploring their environment and imitating the adults in their lives and imitating them.
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Excessive screen time hampers a child’s observation and overall experience of the typical everyday activities they should engage in to learn about the world. This leads to “tunnel vision,” and is extremely detrimental to their overall development.
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It is therefore advisable to limit screen time to a minimum in kids until the age of 12 and monitor screen time when they are in their teens.
Dr. Bhavin Patel
