Obesity takes toll: More youngsters face chronic illness
March 19th, 2008From the Chicago Tribune:
With an epidemic of obesity affecting American children and adolescents, doctors say a growing number are being diagnosed with chronic diseases once considered illnesses of adulthood.
In addition to the well-known rise in Type-2 diabetes among U.S. youths, overweight children also are suffering from fatty liver disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and sleep apnea. Health professionals are increasingly concerned, fearing the long-term impact of developing chronic diseases early in life.
“The earlier you develop diabetes, the more likely you are to develop complications,” said Dr. Paula Butler, chief of endocrinology at Mt. Sinai Hospital. “People will be having eye problems early, heart problems early, strokes early and go on dialysis. They will suffer knee and back pain, have sleep problems. They may not be able to work. It affects quality of life.”
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 at 3:04 pm and is filed under chronic illness, diabetes, families, quality of life.
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