Drinking soft drinks every day, boy reaches 110kg

NDO - On average, NGH (Hanoi) eats about 3 bowls of rice per meal, drinks 1 can of soft drink and eats 2 large packs of chips every day. Just a short time after the Covid-19 pandemic, the 15-year-old boy became obese, weighing up to 110kg.

Warning about overweight and obesity in children

In the past 3 months, H. has gained more than 20kg uncontrollably. Worried about this condition, the family took H. to visit Medlatec Thanh Xuan General Clinic.

Here, the doctor recorded H.'s height as 176cm, weight as 110kg, BMI as 35.5kg/m², at the threshold of severe obesity.

H.'s weight gain has lasted for the past 4 years, especially rapidly after the social distancing period due to Covid-19. During that time, the child mainly studied and lived at home, had little exercise, ate a lot of fast food and drank carbonated soft drinks. Currently, H. eats an average of about 3 bowls of rice per meal, drinks 1 can of soft drink and eats 2 large packs of chips per day.

In addition to clinical examination, the child's test results also recorded high blood sugar and uric acid levels, along with vitamin D deficiency. The child was diagnosed with obesity, pre-diabetes and vitamin D deficiency - a typical consequence of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle.

According to Dr. Nguyen Tuan Lam, World Health Organization, the 2010-2020 National Nutrition Survey showed that the rate of overweight and obesity increased rapidly, in which the group of children under 5 years old increased from 5.6 to 11.1%; children 5-19 years old increased from 8.5 to 19%; adults increased from 12 to 19.6%. The rate of diabetes in adults has nearly doubled from 4.1% to 7.1% from 2015 to 2021.

According to Ms. Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, Deputy Director of the Legal Department, Ministry of Health , regular use of sugary drinks increases the risk of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, gout...; regular use of sugary drinks increases the risk of oral diseases, adversely affecting bone health.

Ms. Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, Deputy Director of the Legal Department, Ministry of Health (middle) shares about the harmful effects of consuming sugary drinks.

"A 330ml serving of a sugary carbonated drink typically contains about 35g of sugar, providing about 140kcal of energy, while providing very little nutritional value ( World Health Organization). A typical 455ml bottle of orange juice will contain about 15 teaspoons of sugar. Sugar consumption is a major contributor to the global obesity rate and diet-related non-communicable diseases. Overweight and obesity are a worrying health problem for both adults and children in Vietnam," Ms. Thuy shared.

With the boy's current condition, the doctor emphasized that treatment requires close cooperation and coordination between the family and the medical team. Accordingly, H. was given an energy-controlled diet, starting with a reduction of 150 kcal/day and gradually increasing to 500 kcal/day, with the goal of losing 0.5 kg/month.

At the same time, children need to eliminate soft drinks from their diet and switch to unsweetened milk or partially skimmed milk. Regular physical exercise is also recommended for 30-60 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week.

Subjective about obesity, children face many health consequences

Childhood obesity is a condition in which the body accumulates too much fat, negatively affecting the health and development of children.

Master, Doctor Tran Thi Kim Ngoc, Pediatrics, Medlatec Thanh Xuan General Clinic said that there are many causes of obesity in children, the most common of which are nutritional imbalance, genetics, and unhealthy living habits.

Children eat too many foods rich in fat (fried foods, fast food) and carbohydrates (cakes, soft drinks, chips...), causing energy intake to far exceed energy expenditure, leading to excess fat accumulation in the body.

In terms of genetic factors, children born into families with parents or siblings who are obese are at higher risk than children without a family history of the disease. Study pressure, stress, or psychological trauma make children more likely to turn to food, especially sweets, as a way to soothe their emotions.

Eating while watching TV, being sedentary, sitting/lying down for long periods of time, lack of sleep... are also factors that increase the risk of obesity in children.

Through her experience examining obese children, Master, Doctor Tran Thi Kim Ngoc shared that many parents do not realize that their children are overweight, or underestimate the actual level. Most parents only take their children to the doctor when they complain of leg pain, bone pain, or are concerned about their height.

Childhood obesity not only causes early puberty, but also increases the risk of dangerous non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer in the future. Psychosocially, obese children are prone to discrimination, isolation, and loss of confidence, leading to problems such as depression, stress, and poor academic performance.

Therefore, experts recommend that parents should check their children's weight regularly and closely monitor their development through standard growth charts provided by specialists.

Because children's bodies are still in the process of growing, the principle of treating obesity in children is not "forcing weight loss" but controlling the rate of weight gain - helping children maintain a stable weight, or lose weight slowly, in parallel with height development.

The process of treating obesity in children needs to be synchronized according to 3 main groups of solutions: Adjusting a scientific diet, reducing energy intake but still ensuring adequate nutrition according to age needs.

Meals should be balanced with 4 essential groups of nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals). Foods such as green vegetables, fresh fruits, low-sugar yogurt... should be prioritized, while limiting foods rich in empty energy such as fried foods, sweets, carbonated drinks...

Parents need to encourage children to participate in age-appropriate physical activities; create a healthy living environment, maintain the habit of getting enough sleep and eating on time for children.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/uong-nuoc-ngot-hang-ngay-be-trai-cham-moc-110kg-post876842.html