An article in the March 3 edition of Time magazine titled “Young Kids, Old Bodies,” raises the issue of obese children aging too quickly, and the dramatic health decline some are seeing as a result.
Dr. Siripoom McKay, a professor of pediatric endocrinology at Texas Children’s, and Dr. Sanjiv Harpavat, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Texas Children’s, were both quoted in the article, after noting the many health issues plaguing (and aging) this generation’s obese children.
“I am thinking that we will have people in their 30s, 40s and 50s who should be at their most productive,” said McKay, “who will be on dialysis or have had several heart attacks.”
Researchers are starting to see signs of accelerated cellular aging at the molecular level in obese children. The extra pounds on children can affect the body in multiple ways, including early signs of puberty, high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver and cirrhosis.
In order to combat the problems, many doctors are prescribing medications that were originally only intended for adults (typically over the age of 40). Unfortunately, these drugs can present side effects in children such as stomach pains, muscle weakness and fatigue. But without the medication, some children may face worse alternatives such as heart attacks or liver transplants.
Hoping to stop (or at least slow down) one obese patient’s liver decline, Dr. Harpavat has plans to put the boy on a drug trial that’s testing whether cystamine can improve the symptoms of fatty liver. If it works, the patient may be saved from an early downward spiral in his health.
Top gastroenterologists, endocrinologists and other specialists at Texas Children’s are constantly researching improved ways to treat symptoms of child obesity and fight the signs of premature aging in this generation’s obese boys and girls. But for now, beyond medications, lifestyle strategies like a healthier diet and more exercise are still among the best ways to improve health in obese children.