Researchers have found that a missing chromosome may be to blame in some cases of severely obese children, giving them an insatiable hunger that causes them to over eat, according to MSNBC.com.
Chromosome 16, when missing, removes a gene that the brain needs to respond to the leptin, the appetite-controlling hormone that signals when you are full and when you are hungry.
In a recent study, children with a chromosome 16 DNA deletion have a very sudden, strong desire to eat, and often. This condition, however, is very rare and for very severe cases, children weighing in the 200 pound range by age 10.
The findings, which were reported on Sunday, December 6, 2009 have already had an impact on families. Four children, who were later found to have the chromosome 16 deletion, had been the subject of investigation by the British child welfare authorities, who blamed parents for overfeeding them, and putting their health in danger. Two families have been cleared, and the other two are being investigated further.
But don’t apologize to all those moms of obese children you heckled while watching The Maury Povich Show just yet. While the findings are real, and of course, important, this is information that can be used to help the situation, not explain it away.
Hunger is the stimulant, not the cause. Over eating, even when legitimately hungry, is still the actual cause of the obesity, not the missing chromosome. We all know that seeing your child uncomfortable is hard, and you would do anything to make that feeling go away, but while over feeding may help ease discomfort in the short run, in the long run these children end up far more uncomfortable, unhealthy, depressed and sick.
The lack of knowledge about nutrition among the population as a whole is startling, so it’s no wonder that parents that don’t have a grasp on what eating healthy truly means themselves are struggling with teaching their kids good eating habits.
While fruits and vegetables are important, it’s not the whole equation. Usually, it’s not what you aren’t feeding your child that leads to obesity, it’s what you are feeding them, and those foods have an effect on your child’s body far beyond weight gain.
When people hear sugar, they think the white stuff, but sugar is in a lot of foods, most of which aren’t even sweet, especially prepackaged, processed foods. Why is this important? Because sugar causes cravings. Not just the “Ooh, that cookie sounds really good right now” kind of craving, but a hormonal, physical craving.
Without getting too technical, sugar is a simple carbohydrate, which means it enters the bloodstream quickly and easily to provide the body with energy. This also means it is used up quickly. When the body realizes it is low on energy, it quickly calls for more, and fast, which means your body actually starts to crave sugary foods so it can get that hit of quick energy it needs.
It’s just like when you reach for one piece of candy- you soon want another and another even though you aren’t even really hungry. Sugar begets more sugar, and in this case, it is best to not get the craving ball rolling in the first place.
Processed carbohydrates, such as sugary cereals, white rice, pasta, white breads in loaf form or in the form of bagels, English muffins, waffles, pancakes, and granola bars are all examples of foods that will spike your child’s blood sugar and cause cravings. The good news is there are whole grain versions of most all of these foods, which eliminate the problem.
Whole grains, which are complex carbohydrates, offer the body energy, but enter the blood stream slowly, offering a longer, more consistent supply, and regulating the appetite. Complex carbs are usually in the their simplest and unprocessed forms, like brown rice, which is just white rice with the husk on, where all the fiber hangs out.
Just because it says whole grains on the package, doesn’t mean it’s truly whole grain. Most of the time, if you look closely, it says made with whole grains. Also, multi-grain doesn’t mean squat – “multi” does not equal “whole.”
Look for a label that says 100% whole grain, or check the ingredient list. The first word should, without a doubt, no exceptions, be “whole.” Not wheat, not enriched- just whole.
And of course, limit sweets, which is a more obvious culprit of blood sugar spikes.
It is important to know how food effects the body so that you can help with any situation your child may be suffering form instead of unknowingly hindering it. If your child has a weight problem, the last thing you want is to unwittingly contribute to it, so make sure you know exactly what is going into your child’s mouth and teach them about making healthy nutritional choices.
