Obesity in children has increased tenfold in the last 40 years

Children are increasingly suffering from the metabolic syndrome

A metabolic syndrome is the dangerous combination of obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and disturbed fat metabolism. So far, the metabolic syndrome was only known in adults, but now children are affected. "This is not a disease in its own right, but rather a particularly dangerous combination of diseases and risk factors for cardiovascular disease," explains Drs. Hermann Josef Kahl, pediatrician and Federal press spokesman of the professional association of pediatricians (BVKJ). In English, this combination in adults is also called "deadly quartet", so Kahl.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) pointed out that the number of obese children and adolescents between the ages of five and 19 has increased tenfold in the world over the last forty years. However, as children are significantly different from adults in terms of fat distribution, growth and proportions, a reference system has been developed to identify limits for adolescent girls and boys. The reference system is based on data from more than 12,000 children from eight European countries aged three to ten years. The system will allow pediatricians to identify more quickly values ​​in or over the threshold and take appropriate countermeasures if needed.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of obese children has increased tenfold in the past 40 years. (Image: kwanchaichaiudom / fotolia.com)

Which values ​​are used to determine the metabolic syndrome?

In children, among other things, the hip circumference is used to assess the distribution of fat to determine the metabolic syndrome. The triglyceride or HDL cholesterol levels for lipid metabolism also play a role in the determination. Furthermore, the fasting glucose value, ie the blood sugar value in the fasted state, for the diabetes risk and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure are used. According to Dr. Kahl is the target of the reference system to prevent children and adolescents from growing up with an increased disease risk, such as diabetes. Childhood is a crucial phase to adopt a healthy lifestyle with balanced nutrition and exercise. (Fp)