"WE DON'T BORN OBESE"

INTERVIEW WITH DR. ALBERTO FISCHER, A PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST, ON A CURRENT TOPIC 

Dr. Alberto Fischer

One of the aspects that characterise today's society is the growing number of overweight children, due to a disorderly diet and a sedentary lifestyle.
Current data provided by the "Istituto superiore di Sanità" (Higher Institute of Health) indicate that 1 every 3 children is overweight.
Dr. Fischer, how are the causes of obesity identified in children?
"To obesity, both in the adult and in the child, there are many related diseases that may already occur
in childhood, such as cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, metabolic, psychological (distrust, behavioural abnormalities, bipolar disorders). The child who is obese under the age of one year, has a higher risk of obesity when he is an adult, and this is because at this stage the fat cells are not only hypertrophic (with the possibility of returning to normal), but they increase in number (hyperplasia) with no possibility of shrinking in the future”.
What are the most recognised causes of obesity?
"They are, first and foremost, familiarity and in this case the risk is greater when both parents or one of them are obese. Furthermore, there are bad life habits such as a diet rich in fat, a sedentary lifestyle, with a growing number of children who prefer video-games to physical activity and, I would add, the media through inadequate forms of advertising. Rare in children are genetic, hormonal or pharmacological causes".
What are the strategies to prevent obesity in the child?

"There must be a participated alliance between pediatricians, family, school and institutions through implementation of capillary health education programs. We are thinking about the elimination of snack vending machines in schools and about including in distributed meals the constant presence of fruit, vegetables, and other appropriate food. Furthermore, at least one hour of adequate motor activity should be entered daily. It is also recommended that parents drastically limit the time children spend watching television, computers and cell phones, encouraging those activities that involve movement".
                                                                                                 Salvatore Cifalinò