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Obesity in children and teenage Mexicans

Obesity has grown so fast worldwide that in just 30 years it is now considered a global public health issue. It is estimated that on 2020 half the diseases that affect the population will be diet related. Excess body volume it’s not exclusively an adult’s problem. Mexico heads the world statistics in child obesity; having obesity has a higher risk on premature deaths, diminishes life quality and increases health costs.

When a child or adolescent has obesity and has parents with excess of weight, the probabilities of staying obese until an adult stage are high, up to 70% in teenagers from 10-13 years old! Children from overweight mothers are the one who have a higher risk of being obese. Nowadays in Mexico, it is estimated that, approximately, a 20% of children are obese.

 Prevention

To avoid excess weight it is necessary to modify certain things, without pretending to be simple and with the intention of having a starting point, these are some initial actions:

  1. The mothers must recognize that they are responsible for their child’s health, since the conception. The phrase “eating for two” is obsolete and unhealthy, most specially when most Mexican mothers are overweight and their nutrition status is poor; during this crucial phase the main focus must be on the food quality and not quantity.
  2. A food criterion is learned in the family. Organizing family dinner’s, starting from going to the supermarket till its preparation, and eating together at established hours; it allows to build good habits that will stick throughout their life and also improve all family members nutrition. These action help avoid fast food and have knowledge on the control of portions compared to commercial, fast and/or processed food that have sugar, salt and excess or hidden fat.
  3. Increase physical activity and exercise. The objective is to walk 10,000 steps a day, watch TV a maximum of 1 hour and establish a daily exercise routine of 150 min per week.

 

When the child and adolescent environment changes, weight and health state changes too. If the family dynamic has clear strategies directed to improve health and are congruent among all members, either they live together or not, teenagers will have a better chance to control their weight.

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OCC’s epidemiologist is closely monitoring the COVID-19 status and is actively issuing updates as they are available. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization are the most trusted sources online.  While the CDC has announced new mask protocols for vaccinated individuals, there will be no changes for our office protocols for patients, guests, and staff members as the announcement does not apply to hospitals or medical facilities. Masks are still a requirement for all patients, guests and staff at our facility.

As we reinitiate weight loss surgery, we are constantly adapting and installing new and updated safety measures.

Weight loss surgery is medically necessary.

Bariatric Surgery and the clash of two pandemics.   

Major metabolic and bariatric surgery Societies and colleges globally are now calling for the safe resumption of bariatric and metabolic surgery before the COVID-19 pandemic is declared over. 

The sooner bariatric surgery can be safely performed, the quicker obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases can be reduced or resolved as they are not only chronic they are also progressive.  Obesity is also linked to more than 40 diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and at least 13 different types of cancer.

A recent statement from the ASMBS says “Before COVID-19 began, it was clear that patients with obesity were ‘safer through surgery.’ In the era of COVID-19, ‘safer through surgery’ for patients with obesity may prove to be even more important than before.” Obesity and Metabolic syndrome have been identified as an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes including death among COVID-19 patients.

See here for full COVID-19 update. 

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