10 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - A new study shows an alarming rate of obesity among children only 4 years old.
The study, by researchers at Ohio State University and Temple University shows one in five American children age 4 are obese.
The incidence of obesity among Latino and Native American children was of significant concern: 22 percent among Latinos and 31 percent among Native Americans.
Sacramento pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Gnanagurudasan Prakasam was not surprised by the findings. He said over the years, his practice has seen a growing number of obese children.
Prakasam said obesity in children so young increases their risk of serious health problems including diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and joint ailments.
"The younger you have obesity, the earlier you get Type 2 diabetes. The earlier you get Type 2 diabetes, the earlier complications are going to be," said Prakasam.
Type 2 diabetes used to primarily be a disease among adults. Now Prakasam sees patients as young as 6 with Type 2 diabetes.
The doctor recommended that parents "be active" with their children by riding bicycles or simply listening to music and dancing.
"The family has to set the example of how active the family should be and that's how kids learn. Kids learn by seeing others, what they do and what they eat, what they drink, and how they move about," said Prakasam.
He added that eating healthy and cutting back on fast foods will help children avoid gaining extra pounds that can lead to obesity.
News10/KXTV
