FAQs
It’s human nature to worry about your children, and one of the biggest concerns a parent can have about their child is their health. Here are the most common questions Dr Gary receives from parents about their children’s health, weight and eating habits.
The most likely answer is that your child is consuming too many artificial, fast and processed foods that contain highly refined carbohydrates, saturated fat and high levels of salt. Eating unhealthy foods can make your child’s blood sugar levels rise rapidly. In response, your child’s pancreas releases a large spike of insulin, the hormone that lowers blood sugar. Typically, this rise in insulin causes a rapid drop in blood sugar, and then about an hour afterwards your child’s brain responds with a hunger drive. Feeding this hunger drive with unhealthy food starts the process all over again. This behaviour not only keeps them hungry but also keeps them in the cycle of obesity.
The best way to understand if your child is overweight is to input their details into a Body Mass Indicator (BMI) Calculator. It can be confronting to see just how overweight your child is, but it’s the first step in assessing the problem, which then leads to finding solutions.
It’s rare for single gene mutations to cause very severe early-onset childhood obesity. I have seen many children with severe obesity caused by such monogenic disorders all of which are very difficult to treat. In any case even such a child will benefit from healthier nutrition and physical activity. A large majority of children with severe obesity are from families that carry what is called a polygenic predisposition to obesity (i.e., many genes contribute small increases in risk to obesity) but in the end the home environment and examples set by parents plays a greater role in determining whether your child will follow the family’s journey to severe obesity or not.
There are many long term complications that can arise from being overweight or obese, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, sleep apnoea and asthma. Obesity can also cause issues with mental health, such as depression and anxiety, it can be a leading factor in causing a poor quality of life and ultimately plays a part in causing an increase in all causes of death or mortality.
Your child’s weight is about more than just how active they are, it’s also about their diet and nutrition. When all of these are working together you can get your child to a great place with his or her health. If just one of these is out of sync, the issue is going to be harder to change.
Slowly, persistently and with help and an understanding that this steep learning curve to eating healthier is a necessary journey for you to take as a parent. What you learn now will yield enormous benefit and satisfaction to your own children and grandchildren and help to break the “transgenerational” cycle of obesity and ill-health in your family’s history. Keep this “Why” in your heart to motivate and inspire you no matter how difficult it feels at different times.
Children and teens who are overweight are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This used to be a disease for older adults, but is now affecting children under 10 years old. This is due to the earlier onset of severe obesity, especially central obesity (a large waist size and circumference). The good news is that type 2 diabetes is totally preventable through whole family lifestyle changes.
The usual method to determine the severity of obesity is to calculate the body mass index (BMI) of a child or adolescent. BMI is calculated by taking the weight (in kg) of the child, divided by their height (in metres) squared (m2) to give the BMI value, this value is then compared to children of the same age and sex. If a child’s BMI is greater than the 85th centile they are deemed overweight or at risk of developing obesity. See http://pro.healthykids.nsw.gov.au/calculator/
The answer lies with you, the parent. Whether you’re a single parent or are with your partner the solution is to seek and embrace the best knowledge about healthy eating and keeping physically and mentally fit. As a parent you set the tone and provide inspiration for your children. You can seek advice from family and friends who lead happy and healthy lives or from your GP or dietitian to make real changes. Dr Gary’s book “Ride to Life” also offers advice through a holistic approach set to motivate you and your family to start your healthier family journey.
Children with autism sometimes have oral sensory perception problems that makes it challenging to taste foods of different colours, textures and consistency. The best advice is to keep offering such healthy foods (sometimes disguised in soups or other ways) as often as possible to your child in an encouraging positive and a non-judgmental way without expectations. You should not substitute healthy options for unhealthy ones if you're afraid your child won’t eat. Consider help and advice from a speech or occupational therapist trained to take care of children with autism and to overcome these barriers.