Why Your Child Is Gaining Excess Weight – Your kid’s health is essential, as it will have an effect on their life in the future. Every parent wants their children to be happy and healthy, so they are trying to do their best to prevent any problem that can negatively impact the quality and quantity of their kids’ lives. But oftentimes, parents overdo it in an attempt to make their children healthier. It’s important to be mindful of it in order to avoid negative consequences. So, let’s talk about children’s weight problems.
While in many cases parents are to blame for excess weight in their children, there are some medical conditions that can result in weight gain. The most common reason for a kid’s obesity is consuming too many calories. If weight changes are concerning, this could be due to some underlying problems unrelated to their physical activity, diet, or growth. Though many of these reasons are not common, they might be related to unhealthy weight gain in your child:
1. Gut issues
If despite eating fruits and veggies regularly your kid has excess weight, this could be due to an unhealthy gut microbiome. According to recent studies, if we don’t have enough healthy gut bacteria, especially in childhood, this can result in obesity and turn into diabetes and other health problems.
Good gut bacteria is often destroyed by a diet full of processed and packaged foods and artificial sweeteners along with the use of antibiotics that can lead to the overgrowth of bad gut bacteria. Sometimes, increasing your child’s consumption of foods rich in probiotics and prebiotics can help improve the gut microbiome.
2. Allergies and asthma
Allergies and asthma don’t directly lead to obesity in children, however, they may indirectly provoke weight gain. Since kids with allergies and asthma often experience difficulty breathing, this can lower their levels of physical activity. Plus, antihistamines and oral steroids can result in weight gain as well.
3. Prader-Willi syndrome
Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare genetic condition that can affect kids and is linked to behaviors contributing to weight gain, such as binge eating. In fact, this is the most common syndromic form of obesity. When combined with bad eating habits, the symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome can trigger weight gain. To avoid this negative effect, visit the center for weight loss and consult a specialist who will select the most effective weight loss program for your kid.
4. Leptin resistance
Metabolic abnormalities and genetic syndromes cause less than five percent of obesity, however, that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Though leptin resistance rarely affects children, it still can be the reason for excess weight.
Leptin is a hormone that’s produced in fat cells. It helps your brain understand when you’re full and helps balance the calories you burn and the fat stored in your body. In some people, the body can’t regulate leptin properly, which results in leptin resistance. Leptin resistance, in turn, is linked to obesity.
5. Your kid’s medications
If your child is currently taking medications and you noticed they are gaining weight, these can be to blame. Certain medications can lead to an increased feeling of hunger, slow down your metabolism, or increase fluid retention, which can lead to weight gain. The most common medications that impact weight in kids include anti-seizure meds, some antihistamines, antidepressants, and oral steroids.
6. Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is another uncommon reason for excess weight in children. This health problem is characterized by poor function of the thyroid gland, making it unable to produce enough thyroid hormone. This causes slowed metabolism, low blood pressure, low energy levels, and other symptoms. In most cases, hypothyroidism provokes mild weight gain rather than obesity or severe weight gain.
