Does My Child Have A Metabolic Disorder?

Find out if your child is at risk for developing this serious health condition.

Obesity has become a serious epidemic not only for American adults but also children, as well. In fact, about one in three children are now overweight or obese. With sports and physical activities being swapped for video games and television, it’s not hard to see what could be to blame for this serious issue.

If your Easton, PA pediatrician has recently told you that your child might have metabolic syndrome than naturally you are concerned for their health and wellbeing. Find out more about this condition and what you can do to make sure your child lives a healthy life.

What is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome, which is different than metabolic disease, refers to a variety of problems that put children at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

What are the risk factors involved in developing metabolic syndrome?

Children who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome often have three or more of these risk factors:

• High blood pressure
• Excess abdominal fat
• High blood sugar
• High cholesterol levels

While it can be surprising to hear about children dealing with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, poor diet coupled with lack of exercise is leading to more and more children developing metabolic syndrome.

What causes metabolic syndrome in children and how can I prevent this from happening to my child?

There are a multitude of factors that can cause children to develop metabolic syndrome, but luckily these are all causes that can be prevented with a little awareness. The first thing you’ll want to do is take a look at your child’s diet. If they are consuming a lot of fast food, sodas and lacking healthy nutrients then it’s time to change their diet. Incorporate lean meats, low fat dairy, and fruits and vegetables into their meals and avoid keeping junk food in the house.

Also, children are spending an excessive amount of time in front of the television. One study found that children between the ages of 6-11 spend approximately 28 hours each week watching television, and children ages 2-5 spend about 32 hours in front of the screen. Try to swap out the time spent playing video games and watching TV with after-school sports or even physical activity right in your own backyard.

If your child is overweight, inactive or an unhealthy eater then you may be concerned about metabolic syndrome. However, your Easton, PA pediatrician, Dr. Ramesh P Kadewari, MD can help. Schedule an appointment for your child at Pediatric Medical Center of Lehigh Valley and put their health first.