Monday, April 19, 2010

What is the Metabolic Syndrome X ?

What is the Metabolic Syndrome X ?
This is the name given to a particular cluster of the most dangerous health risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus type 2, which was first identified in 1988 by Gerald Reaven, a Stanford University endocrinologist, in a lecture to the American Diabetes Association (Reaven, 2000). It is also called Insulin Resistance Syndrome
It is characterized by the presence of Obesity and Insulin Resistance, a reduced responsiveness of the body tissues to the important hormone Insulin. Additionally, MSX is associated with high blood pressure and two problems with body fats in our body, namely : high blood levels of triglycerides and low blood levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). Having Metabolic Syndrome X multiplies by 5 times the individual's chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes and multiplies by 2 times the chance of developing coronary heart disease.
This condition has become a major public health threat in the United States, as close to one in every four (25%) adults in our country have it, as a direct consequence of two elements that deteriorate our health : Obesity and lack of physical activity. As stated before, researchers establish that close to an astounding 50% of all obese children in the USA have ChiMeSyX by the ages of 12 to 14 .
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) (as per their institutional definition in 2005), the Metabolic Syndrome X includes :
Abdominal obesity
Waist circumference >94 cm (>37 in) in men, >80 cm (>31.5 in) in women

And at least two of the following :
• Hypertriglyceridemia
o Blood triglycerides >150 mg/dl (or on triglyceride-lowering medication)
• Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL)
o Blood HDL-C <40 mg/dl in men, <50 mg/dl in women
• High blood pressure
o BP >130/85 mm Hg or already diagnosed with hypertension
• High fasting glucose
o Blood glucose >100 mg/dl or already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
Note : Some studies have shown that the use of the IDF criteria misses identifying a small percentage (5–7%) of people (specifically, people without a large waist size) who will go on to develop atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Dr. Augusto Agostini
Ph. D. in Nutrition

Exercise Recommendations For Bodyfat Reduction

Exercise Recommendations
For Bodyfat Reduction

The kind of exercise you need for permanent weight control and fat loss needs to be slow, sustained, and regular. It needs to achieve three goals:
a) Boost your metabolism-the way you convert food into energy;
b) Increase your supply of oxygen to the mitochondria
(the power-ATP-producing structure) of the muscle cells for fat burning; and
c) Shift your Lean Body Mass-to-fat ratio in favor of Muscle.

To attain your goals, you need two kinds of exercise:
Aerobic (such as brisk walking-without interruption) to
stimulate oxygen supply, and Strength Training (also called Resistance Work). A combination - preferably during alternating days - of both these kinds of exercise
will help you burn fat and keep it off for a prolonged period of time.

Keep in mind that Fat is “dead weight”, because as your body’s adipose or fat tissues have very low metabolic activity, they don’t burn calories at all. Only the mitochondria in your muscle cells do this.
The more muscle tissue you have, the better your body burns calories, sheds Fat, and keeps it off. A higher muscle mass also means you can eat more without gaining weight. But you need a lot of oxygen to do this. In fact, the more oxygen your muscles are supplied with via the bloodstream, the more calories and Fat your body can burn.

Aerobic exercise enhances your body’s ability to transport oxygen. I advice you to walk, run, do aerobics, swim, dance, do mini-trampolining, ride your bike or do any other activity that uses the large muscle groups, and where your heart beats steadily and your lungs breathe deeply, for 20 t0 45 minute periods at least three to four times a week. This type of exercise (“Aerobic” which means “with oxygen”) alone can bring about Fat Loss, instead of losing water or body lean tissue.
Of all these aerobic activities, the one that fits best into most people’s lives is simple walking at your own reasonable pace, but without stopping after beginning it. A moderate but uninterrupted long duration walk burns both glycogen (carbohydrates) and fat. Remember that after thirty(30) minutes of brisk sustained walking, your body makes an important shift so that only 50 % of its energy comes from glycogen (carbohydrates) and the rest comes from your Fat stores. Studies in exercise physiology suggest that the minimal time spent in order to shed Fat is from 30 to 45 minutes daily at least 3 to 4 times per week. Doing less than this is wasting your time and efforts.

The important thing to remember about Bodyfat burning (reduction) is to exercise not hard (or extra fast) but long. When walking, begin by taking a 20-minute walk each day, and increase the time as you go along; you’ll see that before you know it, you’ll be reaching your 45-minute mark and even more. Just make it enjoyable, the results will be extremely rewarding.

Happy and Healthy Exercising everybody !!

Dr. Augusto Agostini
Ph. D. in Nutrition

What is Overnutrition?

What is Overnutrition

It results from eating too much, especially of “empty calories”, derived from
high-glycemic index products such as sugar and starch containing foods, which accumulate as excessive fat in our body, while also triggering the adverse-health consequences of Insulin – upsurges in our organism. In addition, our lack of physical exercise and deficiency in daily water intake, worsens the situation.

In the United States, this eating mode of our society has given way to our presently facing the most fearful, first non-infectious Epidemic in the history of our country : Obesity.

Unfortunately, our children (ages 6 to 19) have become the primary target among all demographic groups which are victims of this ever-growing Epidemic. More than 30% of all our children are now considered Overweight and more than half of them are considered Obese. To make things worse, the results of a recent study (just released on July 29, 2009) establishes that 2,700,000 children in the United States are already Severely Obese.

Dr. Augusto Agostini
Ph. D. in Nutrition

OTHER ALARMING FACTS ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY

OTHER ALARMING FACTS
ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Overweight children and adolescents have approximately 70 % (percent) chance of becoming overweight adults, increasing their risk for Diabetes mellitus Type-2, heart disease, sleep apnea and many other illnesses.

Nearly 23 % (percent) of children don’t engage in any spare-time physical activity, and 60 % (percent) of children ages 9 to 13 don’t participate in any organized sports or physical activity program outside of school.
More than 70 % (percent) of high school students don’t attend physical education classes daily.

More than 250,000 USA children ages 1 to 6 are heavier than the weight limits for standard car seats, and most are 3-year-old who weigh more than 40 pounds

Dr. Augusto Agostini
Ph. D. in Nutrition

Saturday, April 17, 2010

What is “Healthy Nutrition” ?

What is “Healthy Nutrition” ?

Healthy Nutrition, also known as “Good Nourishment”, on the other hand, is attained only when our universe of trillions of body cells obtain (via “The River of Life” which is the approximate 5 liters of Blood running through our arteries, veins and capillaries) – the right provision of all the materials, called Nutrients, that they (the cells) need in the form of food, to support Life.

Let’s do an inventory of all the Nutrients we constantly need to “be healthy”, which are : the macronutrients Protein (or its building blocks, Amino Acids), Carbohydrates, Fats, Essential Fatty Acids, Fiber and Water (the largest component of our body), combined with the macrominerals ( Calcium, Chloride, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and Sulfur) and the microminerals called “Trace minerals”, which are required in addition to the CHON (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen), the four elements most commonly present in living organisms . Our body cells inexorably also need a daily supply of the 13 Vitamins ( A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7 (Biotin), B9 (Folic Acid), B12, C, D, E and K ), and of the micronutrients called Antioxidants and Phytochemicals (“phyto” means plant) - derived from herbs, fruits and vegetables, as well as of the Intestinal Bacterial flora - keepers called Probiotics (acidophilus, bifidus, etc.) and Prebiotics (those that feed the probiotics, which are called FOS - fructooligosaccharides).

All these nutrients are constantly needed by our body to perform at its best, and we must try to obtain them daily from the food we eat and drink and/or from our nutritional supplementation resources ; otherwise, in the case of our children, they run the risk of developing injurious impact on their health. Besides not allowing them to become fully develop both physically and mentally, this situation if left untreated and thus unresolved, may bring disease and future health-threatening conditions to our youngest population (e.g. Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome), and may lead them to developing chronic infirmities (like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis) that will seriously deteriorate their present and future quality of health and life.

Therefore, we must prevent this from happening by assisting them from an early age with the nutritional supplementation their bodies so much need in order to attain better health.

Dr. Augusto Agostini
Ph. D. in Nutrition

UNDERNOURISHMENT / MALNOURISHMENT IS REALLY HARMING OUR CHILDREN

UNDERNOURISHMENT / MALNOURISHMENT
IS REALLY HARMING OUR CHILDREN

Among high school students, only 23.6 % (percent)
of males and only 20.3 % (percent) of females eat
five or more services of Fruits and Vegetables per
day. This simply means that close to 80 %(percent)
of our teenagers are missing out on the antioxidant-rich protection that these live-foods provide their bodies with. On the other hand, 25 % (percent) of the vegetables eaten in the USA are french fries, a starchy, highly-glycemic (fast to become sugar) - thus very fattening - food, that has scientifically proven to be the second most-potent producer of health-damaging free radicals (first one is cigarette smoking).

Seventy percent (70 %) of USA kids –ages 6 to 8-think that fast food is better for them than home cooking.

Did you know that a 1957 restaurant hamburger had 210 calories while today’s “bigger” version contains an average of 618 calories?
When they eat fast food, our youngsters consume mostly
nutritionally-empty calories (lots of them), bad fats and simple carbohydrates in the form of fattening starchy foods and added-sugar sweetened beverages. By eating this way, they’re becoming malnourished and undernourished, as they are getting no antioxidants, no dietary fiber, no good quality protein and no good (omega-3) fats.

Besides harming their health, undernourishment impacts the behavior of children, their school performance and their ability to concentrate and perform complex tasks.

Dr. Augusto Agostini
Ph. D. in Nutrition

IS MY CHILD OBESE ?

IS MY CHILD OBESE ?
Look For The Answer In The Following Level Chart

CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS’
BODY FAT PERCENTAGE (%) LEVELS

FEMALES (%)
Age Underfat Healthy Overfat Obese
7 0-14.9 15-24.9 25-28.9 29+
8 0-14.9 15-25.9 26-29.9 30+
9 0-15.9 16-26.9 27-30.9 31+
10 0-15.9 16-27.9 28-31.9 32+
11 0-15.9 16-28.9 29-32.9 33+
12 0-15.9 16-28.9 29-32.9 33+
13 0-15.9 16-28.9 29-32.9 33+
14 0-15.9 16-29.9 30-33.9 34+
15 0-15.9 16-29.9 30-33.9 34+
16 0-15.9 16-29.9 30-33.9 34+
17 0-15.9 16-29.9 30-34.9 35+
18 0-16.9 17-30.9 31-35.9 36+
19 0-18.9 19-31.9 32-36.9 37+


MALES (%)
Age Underfat Healthy Overfat Obese
7 0-12.9 13-19.9 20-24.9 25+
8 0-12.9 13-20.9 21-25.9 26+
9 0-12.9 13-21.9 22-26.9 27+
10 0-12.9 13-22.9 23-27.9 28+
11 0-12.9 13-22.9 23-27.9 28+
12 0-12.9 13-22.9 23-27.9 28+
13 0-11.9 12-21.9 22-26.9 27+
14 0-11.9 12-20.9 21-25.9 26+
15 0-10.9 11-20.9 21-23.9 24+
16 0-9.9 10-19.9 20-23.9 24+
17 0-9.9 10-19.9 20-23.9 24+
18 0-9.9 10-19.9 20-23.9 24+
19 0-8.9 9-19.9 20-23.9 24+

*This Level Chart prepared by Dr.A.Agostini for
The Coalition To Defeat Childhood Obesity,Inc.(non-profit),
based on information provided by Tanita Ltd.

EMOTIONAL TRAGEDY EXPERIENCED BY OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN

THE OFTEN-IGNORED EMOTIONAL TRAGEDY
EXPERIENCED BY OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN

In her book, “Rescuing the Emotional Lives of Overweight
Children”, child psychologist Dr. Sylvia Rimm, director of
the Family Achievement Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, describes in great detail the serious day-to-day emotional turmoil that overweight children and teens have to face, as they are often the target of rejection and even cruel treatment by their peers, their teachers and even their parents.

According to her, the lifelong consequences of these negative attitudes against these children are devastating to their emotional state of health. Dr. Rimm explains how they “are treated as outcasts, lepers and untouchables” by many people.
In a groundbreaking survey of over 5,000 children,
she was able to discover that compared to normal-weight
kids, heavy children were five times more likely to have low self-confidence, four times more likely to be lonely,
three times more likely to worry about their future, and two times more likely to consider themselves “not smart
enough”. They feel so sad about their social lives that they’re distracted when they work, and they may console themselves by snacking more often. They’re shut away behind a wall of loneliness, according to Dr. Rimm.

As parents, teachers and counselors, we must take steps to solve the weight problem, but also address the sadness issue among many overweight children, and take measures to boost their level of belief in themselves, leading to a higher and healthier sense of self-esteem.


Dr. Augusto Agostini
Ph. D. in Nutrition

Burn Calories Through Moderate Daily Exercise

Burn Calories Through Moderate Daily Exercise
The United States Surgeon General reports that the following
Moderate Daily Activities (Exercises) could help your
Child or Teen burn 150 Calories :
( Remember that one pound of weight is equivalent to 3,500 Calories )

Activity Time Spent
* Basketball (playing a game) - for 20 minutes
* Basketball (shooting baskets) - for 30 minutes
* Bicycling – 4 miles in 15 minutes
* Bicycling – 3 miles in 30 minutes
* Climbing Stairs - for 15 minutes
* Dancing (fast) with a partner – for 30 minutes
* Football (Touch) – playing a game for 45 minutes
* Gardening – for 45 minutes
* Pushing a Stroller – 1 ½ miles for 30 minutes
* Raking Leaves – for 30 minutes
* Running – 1 ½ miles in 15 minutes
* Shoveling Snow – for 15 minutes
* Swimming Laps – for 20 minutes
* Volleyball (playing a game) – for 45 minutes
* Walking (without interruption) – 2 miles in 30 minutes
* Walking (without interruption) – 1 ½ miles in 35 minutes
* Washing & Waxing a Car – for 60 minutes
* Washing Windows (or Floors) – for 60 minutes
* Water Aerobics (playing a game) – for 30 minutes
* Wheelchair Basketball (playing a game) – for 20 minutes
* Wheeling (oneself) in a Wheelchair – for 40 minutes

Note : To effectively consume (burn) these 150 calories, the above activities
must be performed continuously throughout the required time span.

Dr. Augusto Agostini
Ph. D. in Nutrition

Additional Innovative Programs Are Urgently Needed To Stop The Spread of Childhood Obesity

Additional Innovative Programs Are Urgently Needed To Stop The Spread of Childhood Obesity, Especially Now When More Kids Are Becoming Severely Obese

In the last 25 years, rates of severe Childhood Obesity in the United States have tripled,
putting increasing numbers of children at risk for Diabetes mellitus Type 2 and heart disease, says a new study released on July 29, 2009 by the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Researchers looked at National Health and Nutrition Survey on 12,384 youths, ages 2 to 19 years, and found that the prevalence of Severe Obesity increased from 0.8 percent in the period from 1976 to 1980 to 3.8 percent in the period from 1999 to 2004. Severe Obesity correlates to a body mass index that’s equal to or greater than the 99% percentile for age and gender.

The finding could mean that 2.7 million children in the United States are severely obese, the researchers said.

African-American and Mexican-American children had the largest increases in Severe Obesity, along with children in families below the poverty level. For example, the percentage of severely obese Mexican-American children rose from 0.9 percent to 5.2 percent.

The researchers also found that one-third (33 %) of severely obese children had Metabolic Syndrome, which is a group of risk factors for Diabetes mellitus Type 2,
stroke (brain attack) and heart attack. The risk factors include high blood pressure,
bad cholesterol (LDL) and high Insulin levels.

The study appeared online in Academic Pediatrics.

“Children are not only becoming obese but becoming severely obese, which impacts their overall health”, said Dr. Joseph Skelton, an obesity expert at Brenner Children’s Hospital, part of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and lead author of the study.



Dr. Augusto Agostini
Ph. D. in Nutrition

Guidelines To Defeat Childhood Obesity

Dr. Agostini’s
Guidelines To Defeat
Childhood Obesity
by Augusto Agostini, Ph. D. in Nutrition


1. When is a Child considered Obese ?
For Children ( ages 6 to 12 ) and Teenagers
( ages 13 to 19 ), we must define what Obesity
is and when do they reach that condition.
Firstly, we must understand that Obesity is
defined as “ an excessive accumulation of body
fat “. The total body weight is composed of
Lean Body Mass (that is, water, bones, collagen
and muscle) and Fat Mass.
Secondly, to be considered Obese, Children
must be : Boys…more than 25 % Fat, and
Girls…more than 32% Fat.


2.How do we accurately measure Body Fat ?
BMI (Body Mass Index), which is the proportion
of a person’s Weight to Height is, must
definitely, NOT an accurate measurement
of Body Fat. To simply confirm this, note that
an individual with a lot of muscle is erroneously
classified as “Obese” by BMI rules. Remember
that Muscle weighs twice as much as Fat, but
only occupies one-fifth (20%) of the body space.
A fat person floats when in the water, while
the skinny one sinks.
On the other hand, measuring a child’s Body Fat
must be done on a scale that utilizes the BIA
(Body Impedance Analysis) method, as this is
presently the most accurate form of obtaining
the correct information. Purchasing a Tanita
(brand) Body Composition Analyzer scale for
this purpose will be a wise decision.

3.What is the BIA (Body Impedance Analysis)
method of measuring Body Fat ?
This easy, body composition measurement
method has become very popular and widely
accepted by medical and fitness experts.
You step barefoot on the BIA scale, and
the equipment safely passes a low-level
electrical signal through your body.
Body fat percentage (and total fat mass)
is then calculated, based on the amount
of impedance (obstruction) as the current
flows from one point to another. The signal
passes much faster through LBM (Lean
Body Mass) than Fat, because muscle
contains 70 to 75 % of the body’s water
(while fat contains almost no water). This
BIA method is very consistent, especially
if you wait 3 hours after eating or exercise
before the measurement.

4.What are the Daily Calorie Requirements
for Children and Teenagers ?
A child or teen that do reasonable physical
activity (45 to 60 minutes per day) requires:
a) Boys/Girls (ages 6 to 12): 2,200 calories
b) Teen Girls (ages 13 to 19): 2,200 calories
c) Teen Boys (ages 13 to 19): 2,800 calories

5.Which are the dietary elements most
directly responsible for making a child/teen
gain those extra pounds of Fat ?
A daily overeating routine that indulges in
high-glycemic carbohydrates, found in
sugary and/or starchy foods, and the
consumption of excess protein above
his / her daily physical requirements,
most definitely will make your Child or
Teenager to increase in Body Fat.

6. On the number and size of Fat Cells
The body stores new Fat either by
increasing the number of fat cells
(hyperplasia), or by increasing the size
of existing fat cells (hypertrophy).
This is one of the most important
reasons to control Childhood Obesity,
since new fat cells are primarily formed
during childhood. Each year of adding
extra fat cells makes Adult Obesity
more difficult to fight.

7.For effective, healthy and permanent
weight management, understand that
Your Obese or Overweight Child or
Teen should reduce inches of body fat
rather than merely lose weight
It is important to understand the
difference between weight loss and fat loss.
When you lose weight, you mostly lose water
and muscle but just a small amount of fat.
This explains why people can lose weight
but still be overweight. When they resume
normal eating habits, the lost muscle tissue
is replaced with even more fat. If they only
lose weight, they run the risk of getting
even fatter than they were before they
dieted. This is known popularly as the
“ Yo-Yo Syndrome “.
Losing inches of fat, not weight loss is the
key indicator of successful weight

8. Our Children Are Not Exercising,
We Must Motivate Them To Do It !!
Contrary to what we see these days in the attitude
of many adults, who enthusiastically embrace exercise
as part of their daily life in order to enhance health,
Our Children are now, more than ever before in
history, choosing to live a sedentary life.
Statistics show that today’s children – between the
ages of 2 to 12 – watch about 5 hours of television
every day, and devote almost the rest of their non-
sleeping time to video games and computer chat.
Only one-third (1/3) of all elementary school children
participate in schools’ physical education (PE) programs
which have been largely reduced (and even eliminated
from many schools) since the beginning of the 90’ s.
These reductions in the amount of physical activity
in schools have resulted in an increase of children’s
bodies remaining inactive, fact which ultimately lowers
their Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) – which, simply said,
means their bodies’ capability to convert food into
energy when resting. In other words, this inactivity
results in their decreasing the amount of calories
they are able to burn. Researchers have found that
children not engaged in a PE program at school, gained
one inch more around the waist and two pounds more
in weight, mostly of fat mass, than those who were
involved in a PE curriculum. Unfortunately, sedentary
children are easy prey of becoming overfat or obese.
The American Heart Association recommends that
children get a minimum of 30 minutes of vigorous
exercise at least 3 times a week. On the other hand,
Obesity restricts children’s motor performance
because it reduces their relative strength; as body fat
increases, the impulse for physical exertion decreases.
Even when diets of obese and non-obese children
show no substantial differences in the total
consumption of calories, the obese individual tends to
be much less active than acceptable weight-children,
and seldom perform physical activities on a par with
leaner children. Therefore, parents should be clearly
aware that exercise programs for their obese child
should be designated to increase caloric expenditure
rather than improve cardiovascular fitness.

9. If You Want A More Physically-Active Child …
Play Together With Him/Her !!
My advice to you as a concerned parent of an obese
child or teen is that you engage him/her in active
pastimes, which you could also share, like walking,
jogging, running, jumping trampoline, playing outside
the house, etc.
Also, make them active around the house by
assigning them chores to perform, like washing the
car, mowing the lawn, vacuuming, moping, etc.; if
they want to make a good tip or obtain a weekend
allowance, let them earn it - by actively helping with
activities around the house that require physical
exertion. Take them away – at least for a while –
from the computer or TV set.
On the other hand, be a role model, play
together with your child, as he’ll be much more
inclined and motivated to engage in physical
activities if you share in the fun. Enjoy activities
as a family… ride bike, roller blade, go horseback
riding, swim, jump rope, play basketball/soccer or
baseball/football/tennis, etc., but do it together !!
Teach them the basics of sports and play against
them, they’ll exercise more and what’s also great…
they’ll become closer (as friends) to you.
Sign your child up for other sports, such as
gymnastics, golf, track and field, martial arts,
aerobic dancing,etc., or invite him/her to join
a gym with you.
In terms of physical activity, also encourage your
child to walk or ride a bycicle to school(or to visit
friends). Do whatever is in your power to take them
away from the fattening, sedentary lifestyle !!

10.Dehydration Makes Excess Body Fat To Become
Denser And Much More Difficult To Burn.
Your child’s (or teen’s) body composition must be
comprised of a minimum 55% Water if female, and
a minimum 50% if male; otherwise, they’ll face great
difficulty in reducing the Excess Fat in their body.
Therefore, your child’s dietary regime should greatly
reduce -and if possible eliminate- the use of Caffeine
which is a major dehydrating factor to the human
body. Our children’s favorite caffeinated-beverages,
namely soft drinks and chocolate, should be
restricted.
Of course, Exercise also directly affects hydration.
So you must make sure that your child drinks plenty
of water and/or non-caffeinated liquids after
exercising. Being ill or taking diuretics or other
medication can also affect a child’s hydration level.
And last but not least, beware of Constipation, which
is also a major contributor to the dehydration
process. In this case, dietary fibre (especially of the
insoluble type, like grain brans and flaxseed
powder, etc.), should be provided to your child on a
daily basis, accompanied, of course, with water.
If your female child is already menstruating, make
sure she drinks plenty of water and non-caffeinated
liquids, in order to avoid the additional dehydration
that occurs because of the loss of blood during that
time of the month.
It is of utmost importance for us to understand that
in order to get rid of Excess Fat, our body must first
have enough water to emulsify (liquefy) the fat, in
preparation for burning it by means of Oxygenation,
(via aerobic exercise, such as walking, jogging,
running, swimming, bicycling, etc.).
Consequently, we must lead our children by example,
drinking plenty of Water (especially spring) throughout
our day - that’s between 64 to 80 fluid ounces of it,
instead of any other liquid.

11.Parents’ Role Modeling Makes The Big Difference !!
If you really want your kids to eat less junk
foods and fattening products, as well as getting
them to exercise more, I must repeatedly emphasize
the need for you to set the example. Change your
possible bad eating habits and jump aboard the
wagon of exercise !! Your kids will surely follow as
children model adult behavior.


12. And last but not least, Be Supportive of Your Child…
tell him/her is loved, accepted at any weight, and considered very special and important to you. The feelings of children about themselves are often based on how they perceive their parents’ feelings about them. I advice you to always listen to their concern about their weight…and instead of criticizing them,give them your full “active support”, understanding and encouragement. A good way of showing that you really care for their well-being is by your encouraging them to follow these
guidelines, as they’ll prove to be very effective and rewarding.

Dr. Augusto Agostini
Ph. D. in Nutrition

The Adverse Health Consequences of Childhood Obesity

The Adverse Health Consequences of Childhood Obesity
Are Predicted by “ChiMeSyX” (Children Metabolic Syndrome X)

Government and our entire society must be made better aware of / and concerned with the adverse consequences associated with Obesity in their younger population, as its likelihood to progress into the highly health-risk but yet, preventable and even reversible condition known as Children Metabolic Syndrome X, which we abbreviate as “ChiMeSyX”.

Overweight kids are not dying in their teens, but by that age they’re
now facing many of the serious health problems which are predicted - and could be accurately diagnosed from age 10, according to the International Federation of Diabetes - by the Metabolic Syndrome X.

According to the recent findings by researchers at the University of Miami - School of Medicine, surprisingly, half of obese children by ages 12 to 14 already have “ChiMeSyX”. This means that by this early age they’ve tested positive to at least 3 of the health risk factors that characterize it, namely : a) abdominal obesity – an abnormally large waist size ; b) high blood sugar levels ; c) low levels of good cholesterol (HDL) ; d) high blood fat (triglycerides) levels, and e) high blood pressure.

If not identified and counteract at an early stage, Metabolic Syndrome X could be catastrophic for the span of life and quality of health that lies ahead for this young person, as if not stopped, it will inexorably lead to Diabetes Type 2, Heart Disease, Fatty Liver Disease, Hypertension and other serious infirmities, as well as to a much higher possibility of suffering a Heart Attack and/or Stroke at a very young age.

Once a child (or teen) has a chronic health condition, he/she will need – for the rest of life – to manage that health disorder, having to bear all the suffering as well as the high economic costs involved.

According to medical scholars, if a child let’s say is age 10, and has “ChiMeSyX”, and the syndrome is not treated, it will take him/her some 10 years or less to become a chronic Diabetic (Type 2) or develop heart disease, etc. This signifies having to face an entire life of chronic illness, which of course, never goes away.

On the other hand, the good news is that if “ChiMeSyX” is identified and properly dealt with as soon as medically-diagnosed , the young person – if he/she diligently implements the appropriate nutritional, exercise and lifestyle modification measures – could prevent the disease(s) and thus reduce the health risk factor(s). This will allow him/her to minimize the effects and even revert the disorder(s), moving towards better health and overall wellness.
(Note: let’s remember the classic good advice from founding father Benjamin Franklin when he taught us that “an ounce of prevention
is worth a pound of cure”).

Dr. Augusto Agostini
Ph. D. in Nutrition

Friday, April 16, 2010

THE COALITION TO DEFEAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY

THE COALITION TO DEFEAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY, INC.

a non-profit organization caring for the health of our children

We are presently in the middle of the most fearful, first non-infectious Epidemic in the history of the United States; Obesity.

Unfortunately, Our Children ages 6 to 19 have become the primary target among all demographic groups which are victims of this Epidemic . More than 30 % of all Our Children are now considered Overweight, of these half are considered Obese.

Behind these cold statistics, a cruel future awaits these human beings in terms of adversity to their health, thus threatening the span and quality of their lives. A recent (2005) New England Journal of Medicine article reported that children being born today are the first generation of young Americans to have a shorter lifespan-expectancy than their parents or grandfathers.They face enormous health challenges brought on by poor nutrition and deficient physical activity

Because of Obesity, they are victims of Diabetes (Type 2), Cardiovascular Diseases, Asthma, Sleep Apnea, and Osteoarthritis among other serious health conditions.

On top of all these adverse health situations, our obese Children are innocent daily victims of cruel social discrimination and rejection, which leads them into low self-esteem and depression.

It's time NOW to stop the suffering of our overweight children. We, as responsible parents and as concerned members of our community, must take immediate, diligent, and militant action in educating, coaching, and supporting our children face and defeat the terrible and powerful enemy of obesity.

In agreement with the American Obesity Association, we understand that implementing prevention programs-and educating parents on a better understanding of treatment for youngsters - is important to controlling the Obesity epidemic.

It is, therefore, the mission-purpose of our Florida-chartered, non-profit organization-The Coalition To Defeat Childhood Obesity, Inc.-to collaborate with our nutrition-educational and counseling free-of-charge services to parents; as well as with our "Free Health Screenings and Entertainment for Kids"-Fairs, in addition to our printed and broadcast media efforts, in order to assist this upmost deserving cause. Let us work together towards achieving "Mens Sans in Corpore Sano" (Healthy Mind in Healthy Body) for our children.

Respectfully,

Dr. Augusto Agostini