Re: Should We Screen Children for Fatty Liver Disease?

[Guest guest]

I think we need to start with the SNAP(foodstamps)and other gov't programs

(school lunch, etc.). SNAP is a huge program and if you take those foods

out of the program companies will follow with healthier foods IMHO. Not sure

we need more gov't intervention.

> **

>

>

> Amen Holly!!!! Well said. It really is frustrating, and I lose clients too

> when they find out they actually have to make efforts, make changes and move

> more.

>

> Treatment = lifestyle changes for the entire family to promote healthy

> growth w/o any further weight gain (or sometimes reasonable weight loss):

> stop the sugar beverages (including juice), increase vegetables, whole

> grains (instead of white processed foods), PORTION control, decreased fried

> foods, and MOVE (i.e. get off that couch).

> It's like beating my head against a wall, though. Even the 'scare' of liver

> disease was not enough motivation for any of these families to

> follow-through with recommendations.

>

> The real problem lies with the food and beverage industry. Why aren't they

> being targeted? Why is it that they are producing lethal foods, advertising

> it to the hilt, then the people who are eating it get ushered right into

> medications to solve the

> critical health problems that occur as a result of food processing and food

> manipulation. How is THAT being allowed? I am convinced there is a direct

> link between the food and beverage industry and Pharma - they are working

> hand in hand to herd people like cattle, right into the arms of lifetime

> drugs!!!

>

> Does anyone else concur?

>

> Jacquelyn A. Pressly, RD, CLT

> The NATURAL dietitian

> Specializing in Wellness and Prevention, Personal Nutrition Coaching

> and Designer Lifestyle Plans to help you get on the health track

> Northeast Ohio & Western Pennsylvania

> Internet and telecounseling available for distance clients

>

> jpress50@...

>

> If you are what you eat, then dietitians are the doctors of the future

>

>

> Should We Screen Children for Fatty Liver Disease?

> >

> >

> >

> >Question

> >

> >With the increasing rates of obesity in children, what are the current

> >recommendations for screening for, and management of, fatty liver disease?

> >*Response from F. Balistreri, MD*

> >Professor of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine,

> >Cincinnati, Ohio; Staff Physician, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical

> >Center, Cincinnati, Ohio

> >

> >The latest data suggest that 16% of children in the United States are

> obese

> >and 32% are overweight.[1] Therefore, concern about the prevalence of

> >nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or the progressive form of fatty

> >liver disease -- nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) -- is appropriate.

> >Recent studies have indicated a progressive rise in the prevalence of

> NAFLD

> >to its present status as the most common cause of chronic liver disease in

> >adults in the United States.[2] A similar trend is anticipated for the

> >pediatric population. At present, the prevalences of NAFLD and NASH in

> >children are unknown because affected children are most often

> asymptomatic,

> >perhaps manifesting only mild fatigue and obstructive sleep apnea. One

> clue

> >to recognition is the close association between metabolic syndrome

> >(hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and central adiposity) and NAFLD in

> >children.[3] As in adults, waist circumference is a significant correlate

> of

> >insulin resistance and fatty liver in children.[4]

> >

> >[snipped for brevity]

>

>