Today the facts show that an overweight toddler may be on the way to childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a dangerous medical condition. Unchecked, it can contribute to or result in a whole host of life-threatening conditions.

• Brain
  Depression and sleep disturbance are associated with obesity. Both these conditions pose tremendous risks for other health related illnesses and quality of life.

• Lungs
  Obesity presents an increased risk for asthma and breathing difficulties. With excess abdominal fat it can be difficult to fully expand the lungs.

• Heart
  Fatty plaque build-up in the blood vessels can result in increased blood pressure and overload the heart. Obese children are at higher risk for heart attacks.

• Digestive System
  Obese children with increased abdominal fat experience more problems with abdominal pain, reflux disease and constipation.

• Orthopedic /Joint Disease
  Obese children put too much pressure on the growth plates of their bones. This can result in misalignment, pain and early arthritis.

• Pancreas
  The pancreas produces insulin to control the body’s blood sugar. Consuming too much sugary food and drink can result in high insulin levels and the body becoming resistant to insulin with diabetes developing.

• Gallbladder
  Dysfunctional gallbladders and gallstones are seen more commonly in obese children.

• Liver
  Excess body fat can be deposited inside the liver cells, trigger inflammation and damage the liver cells. This is a slow process over time, but if started in childhood can lead to liver failure.

http://www.majoreasy3.org

Our America with Lisa Ling on OWN

I watched a documentary on OWN, it was a study of childhood obesity and it was heartbreaking!

Little Rock, AR

A four year old boy that weighs 101 pounds. He is so addicted to food that he cries and throws tantrums for more food. His mom wants to say no, but has a difficult time saying no because  it breaks her heart for her son to cry for food, even though she knows  for his health she should say no. At night this precious child sleeps with a mask to help him breathe because he has sleep apnea. The doctor said if this doesn’t change by time he’s twenty, he’ll be 500 pounds!

Durant, MS

A twelve year old girl that weighs 347 pounds. She eats all the wrong things at home and at school. At home her mom prepare “soul food”…mac ‘n cheese, potato salad, friend chicken,and more, and at school hot dogs, french fries, chocolate milk, etc. This sweet girl has been bullied and has been called vile names, which attacked her self-esteem. This child faces diabetes, CVD, which can cut her life short. She wants to know how she can weigh this much since she  is only a kid. I lost it at that point because she is absolutely right in wanting answers, but the answer is at home. This girl is morbidly obese. Her mom said she prepares food the way she was taught and doesn’t know how to shop for or prepare healthy food. The only food she buys in the form of fresh vegetables is cabbage which she fries or boils so the nutrients are lost. I believe if someone taught the mom how to shop and to explains the perimeter of the grocery store, and the things to stay away from, change will happen because when you know better, you do better.

When you are morbidly obese you have the threat of:

1. type 2 diabetes
2. heart disease
3. hypertension
4. cancer

This young girl will be a success story. She is determined to get the weight off and has started exercising. She went to her first dance and was beautiful! She has a long way to go and she will WIN her battle of obesity. She is doing it for herself!

The Cooking Channel’s: The Food Hospital

UK – An eighteen year old young lady, had to have gastric bypass surgery so she wouldn’t die. She now knows what she can and cannot eat, and she is ready to lose weight and eat healthy.

All of these stories touched me in a very private way because I lost my brother due to complications or morbid obesity, and years ago I was obese.  Children eat what they are given, but as adults, we can make better choices. If this culture doesn’t change, parents will bury their children instead of children burying parents.

If you want to get a glimpse of these stories view here http://bit.ly/UGlHTU

Wheat belly doesn’t have to be the battle of the bulge. Dr. William Davis, preventive cardiologist, who contends that today’s wheat, called “Frankenwheat” by some practitioners, is the result of genetics manipulations designed to produce more wheat per acre.

The result, based on Dr. Davis’ holistic nutrition studies: Eliminating“Frankenwheat” grains from the diet can result in dramatic weight loss, reduced risk of heart disease, improved mood, corrected cholesterol problems and even relief from arthritis.

Dr. Davis contends that wheat is not the “healthy whole grain” it was pretending to be. In reality it is a major contributor to the worse epidemic of obesity and an astounding list of health problems where hundreds of billions of dollars are spent every year for:

• hypertension
• high cholesterol
• obesity
• arthritis
• acid reflux
• irritable bowel syndrome
• fibromyalgia
• migraine headaches
• depression
• diabetes
• various forms of neurological impairment, and on and on.

Are you aware that the pharmaceutical industry funds a good part of the wheat lobby? Dr. Davis contends that we are, in effect, experiencing the consequences of a grand agricultural experiment gone sour.