In Child Obesity the primary root cause is in poor nutrition and poor physical activity.

Childhood Obesity can start at intrauterine level and most important causative factor in this stage is exposure to hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia induced increase in fat cell numbers in the foetus. Environmental and genetic factors also play a role in initiation of overeating, reduced physical activity and excess fat accumulation leading to obesity in children. Low calorie optimized nutrient food and physical activity can prevent obesity in children, promote weight loss, reverse obesity and associated health issues.

Excess body fat in the abdominal area is an energy store but has a negative impact on various body organs and systems by acting as an endocrine gland producing hormones that control our food intake, our immune functions and various metabolic activities which leads to many disease conditions.

• Hyper palatability and its dangers: The focus on addictive foods in modern life and corresponding excess calorie intake through food as carbohydrate, fat and protein above the daily requirement is converted into fat and deposited in the adipose tissues leading to weight gain and obesity.
• Nutrition and fat deposition: High calorie low protein, low fibre diets also promote weight gain.
• Gut bacteria derailment: This can be caused by foods having preservatives, tastemakers, colouring agents, imitation foods, highly processed non nutritious foods and by medications which damage the environment in the gastrointestinal tract leading to obesity.
• Hormonal imbalance can cause obesity: Hormone imbalance in production or at receptor level can lead to obesity. Insulin, thyroid hormone, steroid hormones, leptin and ghrelin among others have a major role in the control of appetite and metabolism.
• Number and size of fat cells can increase: In Childhood Obesity both the number and size of fat cells are increased and fat accumulation occurs in and around viscera and in subcutaneous tissue.
• Lack of physical activity lowers metabolic rate: Sedentary life indoor life, lack of physical activity, addiction to digital games, digital media, taste enhanced food etc play a role in Childhood Obesity.
• Composition of fat: If the deposited fat is in the form of inflammation inducing omega 6 and trans fat the health issues related to obesity and inflammatory disorders will be more intense.
• Associated hormonal changes: Hormonal imbalance also leads to obesity. Insulin, thyroid hormone, steroid hormones, leptin and ghrelin has major role in control of appetite and metabolism. Obesity induce hormone imbalance and in reverse hormonal imbalance promote fat deposition and obesity.
• Gifting of unhealthy foods unknowingly: Gifting children with sweets is a common practice. Many of them are highly unhealthy, rich with sugar, hydrogenated fat, preservatives, colors and taste enhancers and make children addicted to them, leading to obesity, inflammation, immunological imbalance resulting in diabetes, allergies, asthma and a host of diseases.
• Antibiotic use in excess: Repeated use of antibiotics in childhood and food with preservatives alter the intestinal microbial flora which may play a role in Childhood Obesity, autoimmune diseases, allergy and asthma etc.
• Many drugs used as medications like anti epilepsy, anti asthmatic medicines etc can induce weight gain and obesity in children.
• Mental health: Stress associated overeating, eating disorders, deficiency of essential nutrients like vitamins, insufficient or poor-quality sleep, certain genetic disorders, psychological disorders etc also predisposes to obesity.

Treatment challenges

The parent’s and child’s awareness of health optimisation can change Childhood Obesity management to a clinically supervised lifestyle correction for improved performance of age related activities and for lasting benefits.

Challenges in medical treatment

In Child Obesity it is to optimise health to achieve desirable weight loss to provide the desired quality of life for the age and avoid diseases associated with obesity in the future as well. If health is not optimised the body can revert to its earlier stage, if not worse because of deficiency or excess in the body’s composition. Regular followup of the body parameters is essential to ensure that the body receives all the needed inputs to achieve the target body composition and weight.

Children who realise that they have a problem with weight that needs serious attention are at an advantage as they are able to follow the treatment requirements much better.

The stress of obesity stems from inability to perform many activities associated with the age and the management of this is also an integral part of the treatment goals.
(In some very rare instances child obesity will have its origin in genetic problems, rare metabolic syndromes and hormone imbalances but overall they all are very much impacted by the lifestyle and environment of the child. Identifying any such issues go a long way in planning the treatment protocol in such cases.)

Treatment objectives

In treating Child Obesity often the real treatment is removing the root cause and optimising health. This involves returning the body to its pre-obesity state. This requires a comprehensive intervention as the change begins when the parents and the child understands the need and is confident in the treatment resources provided. This can make weight management a key to better health. This is the best response for preventing damage to other organs and tissues and the proper functioning of the immune and endocrine systems as well.

Managing of peer pressure in performing various activities of the age has to be handled with care. Generally the child will be having health issues and some may be concealed from view. This is why the role of health optimisation to improve the overall health of the child is very important for both health and a better quality of life.

Improved health status reflects in self confidence and quality of life.

Total health improvement in the child helps overcome obesity and the current disadvantages in daily life apart from other serious and silent health challenges.

The goal of cell activation treatment for Childhood Obesity is not just weight reduction but to ensure optimal growth and development of the child to his/ her full potential both physically and intellectually. Cell activation treatment focuses on optimal functioning of the body at a cellular level including all 50-70 trillion cells of the body. So while utilising excess fat and reducing weight it controls and reverses the comorbidities associated with obesity, elevated blood sugar, elevated insulin , and many other blood parameters too. Likewise reversing obesity with cell activation will help to control and possibly reverse other health issues like frequent respiratory infections, gastrointestinal problems, allergies, asthma, eczema, autoimmune diseases, depression etc too.

• Optimising health in childhood: Cell activation protocol ensures optimal nutrition, physical activity and reduces toxins entering through food and body care during the crucial years of growth and development of the child.
• Weight management at optimal level in the growth period: Ensures optimal nutrition in a calorie controlled diet for the obese child, increases metabolic rate and promotes weight reduction. After reaching optimal weight, cell activation promotes controlled weight gain proportionate to height increase while keeping the fat mass to lean mass ratio optimal.
• Better immunity provides a healthier childhood: Increases immunity and helps to recover from recurrent respiratory infections, gastrointestinal problems, skin diseases, allergies, asthma, depression, etc.
• Focus on optimal endocrine function: Health optimisation helps in providing the necessary resources for the proper functioning of the endocrine glands and prevention of endocrine malfunctions is a focus of such efforts.
• Optimising health: Enables optimal physical, intellectual, mental and emotional development of the child and help the child to grow up to his/her full potential.
• Developing a taste for choosing healthier foods: Likes and dislikes of food and taste is basically acquired by repeated eating: With cell activation the child is introduced to healthy eating habits and develop a taste for choosing healthy food and the benefit of it lasts lifelong.
• Start young to focus on lifelong health first outlook: Introduction to cell activation principles and starting oxyflex protocol at a young age will bring a healthy outlook and habits in life at a young age and will help in the child in setting priorities in life.
• Optimised health helps the child face growing challenges of changes confidently: Cell activation practice help the child to handle the challenges associated with physical, hormonal and emotional changes of adolescent growth smoothly.
• Skin care: Optimized nutrient food and skincare help in prevention and treatment of acne a common problem of teenage children and young adults.
• All round performance is a focus: Optimization of lifestyle, health and body proportions with cell activation increases the personality, confidence and performance in studies and sports.
• Reduced need for antibiotics and medications: Cell activation practice will reduce the need of antibiotics and other medications and therefore can avoid the possible toxic side effects associated with medications.

Patient options

The informed parent is the key to treatment success.

The informed child is like clay in the potter’s hands.

• Cell Activation Program (CAP) is normally a 3 month Outpatient Program for Health Optimisation. However depending on the child’s requirements the duration may be extended depending on the health challenge and the extent of improvements required in body parameters. An initial evaluation visit is essential and follow up visits vary case by case.
• When you notice any child who is overweight or obese trying to reduce weight do your bit to encourage. Please appreciate that obesity is a disease that needs careful treatment.
• If your child shows loss of strength you should check up to see if he/she is having abnormal muscle loss.
• If your child has overweight or obesity or you suspect so please get a check up and follow up at the earliest to prevent the progression of weight gain and other associated damage.
• If your child is suffering from Obesity and if you want to check out how he/she can benefit from optimising health with Cell Activation to reduce weight under medical supervision you can call / fix an appointment at Life Care Centre.