Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children

February 18, 2015

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children: What is obesity?

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children is a good foundation to give to them. Seeking for help in situations like this is very necessary

If we don’t collectively do something about it, it will stay with us for a very long time. Obesity and overweight particularly in children is not to be over looked by all standards. Research tells us a about how parents can fight the obesity epidemic for their good health of their children and even for themselves. But the question is we doing enough to bring this escalating problem to a manageable level? Let me be very specific, what are you doing to bring the problem of obesity and overweight particularly in children? As you ponder about that I want to bring to your attention that irrespective of what you are doing, AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care is doing something and are changing lives of people globally in regard to this problem. We don’t want you to be left out and so as we get into the discussion, I want to invite you and request you to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury if you or your child is struggling with obesity.

The simplest understanding of what obesity is would means having too much body fat. A child is obese if their weight is more than 20% higher than the ideal weight for a boy or girl of their age and height. These excess fats are the problem and the sooner we deal with them the better not just for us but for the generations to come. If we can pool together, then we will be we will bring up generations free of obesity and overweight. To help us do this, let us find some answers to these questions as we progress.

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children: How common is obesity and overweight?

The available statistics is worrying not just in the US but globally. However using the US as an example research indicates that in the years 1980-2000, the rate of obesity and overweight has more than double particularly in children and teens. It is no wonder that the problem is being considered an epidemic. Today figures have changed on the upward trend with about 17.1% of our children and teen being either obese or overweight. With this trend we must stop asking how common but join in the fight of the epidemic for a better tomorrow.

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children: What are the concerns about obesity in general?

Just like in the adults being obese increases a child’s risk for some serious and chronic childhood medical problems associated with overweight. Such conditions may include:

Pre-diabetes and diabetes
Heart disease, high blood pressure (hypertension)
Hyperlipidemia (too much cholesterol in the blood, which can clog the arteries)
Sleep apnea and breathing problems
Bone conditions, such as hip problems
Gastro-intestinal diseases
Early puberty
Psychological problems, like poor self-esteem and depression

If this is not addressed at its initial stage, then these children are at greater risk of becoming obese adults and inheriting all the health problems associated with obesity lasting through the lifespan. These obesity-associated health problems include high blood pressure, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, gout, pulmonary problems, gall bladder disease, liver disease, psychosocial problems, reproductive problems, and some types of cancer.

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children: How can I tell if my child is overweight?

Just by mare observation of the size of your child is not conclusive enough to suggest that a child is overweight or obese. Periodic processional checkups are very necessary. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, doctor Akoury will help you establish the true status of your child and if found obese or overweight, the she will undertake certain natural and friendly treatment approach to help your child regain his/her healthy weight back. There are some different measurements a doctor may take to tell whether your child is overweight. Like for example:

Weight and height – can be compared and plotted on a growth chart.
Skinfold thickness – measured at the triceps (back of the upper arm) with a caliper that pinches the skin and fat together will be higher than expected in an overweight child.
The best measurement to take is body mass index (BMI). It is fairly complicated to calculate and understand. You can use the link above to read about how BMI is used with children, calculate your child’s BMI on the web calculator, and check your child’s BMI against the right chart for their age and sex to find out their percentile. Note that BMI above 85 percentile for children is at risk of overweight while that above 95 is not at risk but is overweight or obese.

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children: How do kids become obese or overweight?

Like most chronic health problems, obesity is caused by complex interactions between genes, environment and behavior or habits.
Many studies have shown that there is not a big difference in the amount of food eaten and physical activity between obese and non-obese kids. Probably small differences in eating and activity over time really add up and lead to weight gain. Obese children do tend to eat larger portions or higher calorie foods, like high-fat foods.

Physical activity and inactivity are very important factors. Actually children who take a lot of time on the screen and playing video games are potential overweight and obese candidates. In other wards such activities does not encourage movement and therefore little or no calories are burnt resulting into being obese or overweight. What is worrying is that most schools where our children attend do not have playing grounds. One would want to get solace that in place of playing ground there would be a well finished gym. You will be very disappointed if you thought so. All that is available is more rooms for class rooms, kitchen where unhealthy food is prepared and probably the administration blocks. Now if our children spend the better part of their lives in school and this is the kind of environment we have, what is the hope of losing weight?

In our introduction I said that at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care we are doing something and are changing lives of people globally. We intend to make a difference in the society and beyond. Doctor Akoury actually founded this facility center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. Remember that if you don’t do something today, they you are transferring the many chronic complications associated with obesity and overweight to the next generation through your children.

If by reading this article you feel that you need help in eliminating this problem completely, then schedule for that very important appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today and let us help you bring up children with healthy weight for a healthy society. As you consider that it is also very important to remember that children coming from families with obese parents tend to be obese themselves. Like for instance in the event that one parent is obese or overweight, their teen has an 80% chance of being overweight. Why is this so? This is probably because of a combination of genetics and family behavior and habits. Children of moms who have diabetes are more likely to be overweight.

Obesity and Overweight particularly in Children: What is obesity?

Remedies for Children fussy eating and Hydration

February 6, 2015

Remedies for Children fussy eating and Hydration: The Risk of Children being Underweight

Remedies for Children fussy eating and Hydration. this should be the concern for all parents if we are to bring up healthy children

We have been discussing issues touching on weight again and obesity for some time now. All that we have said are actually very useful if we desire to remain in good health. In this article however, we want to change the flow of weight gain and look at the direct opposite. In other words when children grow they tend to respond to the environment differently. Many children up on reaching a given age may without notice show signs of dislike for food. In fact statistics has it that four out of five parents are very concern about the feeding habits of their children. Ordinarily it is not very usual for a child to like a given food today and wake up tomorrow disliking the same. Nonetheless children often rejects taste of certain food mainly because of behavioral issues, the child had eaten somewhere or just being honest that particular food is not their favorite. Whichever the child’s reason, food is very important in the general growth and development of our children. To avoid instances where instead of dealing with obesity, we are going to deal with instance of underweight, we want to address the issues surrounding the possible remedies for children fussy eating and hydration. Doctor Dalal Akoury is speaking to us about the possible working ways through which we can address this concern. While it may be true that a child who refuses food may be trying to assert independence to see how you will react, this kind of behavior must be dealt with professionally less we end up with health conditions which are associated to underweight. Doctor Akoury shares the following heath tips to help you keep fit and healthy.

Remedies for Children fussy eating and Hydration: Here are some tips to cope with fussy eating behaviors

To ensure that your child feeds well, it is very important that everyone who feeds your child agrees on how to deal with your child’s requests and refusals. For instance, you may opt for a 20 minute time limit on mealtimes to prevent them dragging on, or you may decide that any requests for a different meal will be not met. The same guidelines should also be adopted by those who help your child at mealtimes so it’s persistently reinforced.

Staying composed in dealing with your child’s food fussiness is very ideal. The more fuss that is made in return and the more emotional you get, the more charged meal time will become and your child will realize their behavior is getting the attention they desire. By remaining calm, you will help to diffuse the situation and your child will realize their behavior isn’t getting them any extra attention.

As the children grow up to teenage shift the plan a bit and serve them equal portions as the rest of the family. Remember that it’s best to avoid getting stuck in the habit of taking special requests.

Spending some time with your children while eating can be very splendid in many ways. Therefore it is important to make meal times a happy time for the family. Noting that when it becomes stressful the child may not enjoy it and neither will you do.

Be consistent even if the child rejects certain food stuff. Ordinarily children will take up to ten trials before they can start enjoying the new food.

A little trick can work well for you when introducing new menu. Do this when the child is hungry, at this time it is possible that they will make effort to eat something new on an empty stomach.

Remain firm and do not offer a replacement food if what you offer is rejected. However when the child is sick don’t starve the child because they won’t starve themselves either.

Remedies for Children fussy eating and Hydration: Children & hydration

Having looked at certain reasons why children may refuse to eat and what needs to be done. We want to look at another segment that can cause real health problems if not addressed in children. Water is life for real and the human body is 70% water. This priceless commodity has many important functions in the body, including;

Regulating your body’s temperature
Digesting food and
Excreting waste

Your body loses water throughout the day when you sweat, breathe and urinate. These lose needs to be replaced from time to time to prevent you from becoming dehydrated. Did you know that children are at a greater risk of dehydration than adults? This is because in relation to their size, children have a larger proportion of their skin available to lose sweat and be exposed to heat. Additionally, children don’t always recognize that they’re thirsty, and if they’re not encouraged and reminded may forget to drink. Luckily, there are a few ways to tell if your child is hydrated. Remember that a dehydrated child will most likely suffer the consequences associated with weight health conditions.

Remedies for Children fussy eating and Hydration: How do I know if my child is hydrated?

Frequent bathroom breaks or wet nappies are the easiest way to tell if your child is hydrated. You can also look out for these common symptoms of dehydration:

Headaches
Poor concentration
Thirst
Cracked lips
Dry mouth
Constipation
Lethargy
Dark urine

Remedies for Children fussy eating and Hydration: How much water does my child need?

Like I had mention water is life, therefore the amount your child needs will depend on their age, size and level of activity. For children under 8 years of age, at least 4-6 glasses of water are recommended. For children older than 8 years of age a minimum of 6-8 glasses is recommended.

If your child is playing sports or is very active they will need extra fluid, see our section on hydration for active kids. Kids will also need more fluid on hot days or when unwell.

Remedies for Children fussy eating and Hydration: Tips to help your kids stay hydrated!

Pack a water bottle for school and when you go out. Try a frozen water bottle in summer.
Encourage your child to drink water before, after and during physical activity
Always offer water with meals and snacks
Encourage your child to drink water, even if they don’t like it!

Remedies for Children fussy eating and Hydration: Tips for kids who don’t like water

Try adding slices of fruits such as lemon or orange to water, for variety and flavor.
Let your kids choose their own drink bottle or serve water in colorful glasses or jugs.
Be a role model! Make a point of drinking water with your kids.
Experiment with temperature; try having a jug of water in the fridge, adding ice-cubes, or even warm water in winter.

Water is the best choice to keep your kids hydrated throughout the day. It contains no extra energy and can quench your thirst. Other fluids such as milk, juice and sweetened drinks can also contribute to your child’s fluid intake. Remember to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury for professional input in case of underweight or overweight in your children as a result of their feeding habits.

Remedies for Children fussy eating and Hydration: The Risk of Children being Underweight

How Chronic Insomnia Destroys Skin Health

January 27, 2015

How Chronic Insomnia Destroys Skin Health – The importance of Sleep

How Chronic Insomnia Destroys Skin Health

You may take sleep for grunted because of the economic situations around you. Things like tight work schedule and deadlines will not let you have adequate sleep as you would want. And because these deadlines are there on a monthly basis you are becoming used to sleeping for fewer hours. How chronic insomnia destroys skin health is what we want to discuss in this article. It is true that majority of us have witnessed the adverse cosmetic impact on the face caused by just one night of sleep deprivation. When this happens you wake up frowning, tired and exhausted throughout the day. In the process a very young person may look a decade older in response to stress-induced changes in facial tissues that often accompany insomnia. How chronic insomnia destroys skin health is one of the many skin care issues professionally addressed at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Akoury’s care. Therefore if these articles are describing your situation, then all is not lost for you because a phone call to the home of skin experts (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) will be the beginning of your freedom to all skin complications you may be having.

How Chronic Insomnia Destroys Skin Health – The skin tissues

Not very many people are aware of the consequences of chronic insomnia actually chronic insomnia inflicts significant damage to skin tissues ranging from premature aging to disorders like eczema, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. Throughout this article we will look at the various natural methodologies that can help you get a full night’s sleep and enjoy refreshed, healthy-looking skin. In spite of your work schedule and employment demands, it is still very important to maintain healthy, youthful-looking skin. Doctor Akoury an expert in skin care and insomnia recommends that you get at least 7 to 8 hours of restful sleep each night. We appreciate that in today’s hectic, stressful world that may be very difficult for most people to do. However failure to do so will take heavy toll on skin health and overall health as in the long run.

Numerous studies have established that stress-induced sleep debt (insomnia) can dramatically impair skin function and integrity. This single condition will come with other skin health problems like inflammatory skin conditions as eczema and psoriasis; sleep deprivation can exacerbate both allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. Unfortunately, many victims of these sleep liability related health conditions don’t take the right action to treat them because they don’t recognize the real source of their problem.

Poor sleep quality often accompanies normal aging. Fortunately, scientists have identified some of the underlying mechanisms that interfere with healthy sleep patterns as humans mature. For instance, insufficient or poor-quality sleep has been associated with elevated stress-hormone (cortisol) levels and increased mortality from all causes. A decline in the body’s melatonin production is a well-known underlying factor for sleep problems in older adults. This is often accompanied by other health conditions.

How Chronic Insomnia Destroys Skin Health – Collagen

This is one of the skin’s primary components which play a key role in its structure and integrity and healthy elasticity and youthful appearance. Sleep deficit can affect the optimal process of the skin’s collagen formation.

A crucial function of the skin is to maintain a barrier that prevents excessive water loss and blocks entry of toxic foreign substances. The cascade of events that occurs during the process of collagen formation is highly dependent on immune synchronization that is initiated during restful nights of sleep.

How Chronic Insomnia Destroys Skin Health – Insidious Link between Sleep Debt and Skin Aging

Numerous studies have established that stress-induced insomnia can dramatically impair skin function and precipitate numerous skin disorders. Sleep researchers have found that animals subjected to prolonged sleep deprivation develop ulcerous lesions on their legs and suffer increased risk of bacterial invasion through the skin owing to a breakdown in skin membrane integrity.

In humans, sleep debt and stress have been definitively linked to skin disorders so much so that an entire sub-specialty of dermatology has developed over the past two decades called psychodermatology. It emerged after an abundance of published studies revealed that many skin conditions respond well to antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, in addition to traditional dermatologic interventions.

Scientists attribute the link between chronic insomnia and skin disorders to the immune-modulatory or immune-altering effects induced by the release of excess glucocorticoids triggered by sleep debt and stress. As the name suggests, this class of hormones regulates the metabolism of glucose. Every cell in the human body possesses receptors for glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids also happen to play a central role in immune function. (Cortisol is the most important of the glucocorticoids.) Excess glucocorticoid production has been shown to negatively affect nearly every tissue in the body and accelerate the aging process.

In terms of skin health, the sequence of events involved in the formation of collagen is highly dependent on the immune-balancing processes initiated during restful nights of sleep. As the major structural component of your skin and other bodily tissues, collagen protects against UV damage and bacterial infection, maintains your skin’s elasticity, seals in moisture, and preserves its youthful, healthy appearance.

This nighttime balancing process is disrupted in the presence of excess glucocorticoids (cortisol in particular). Sleeplessness ultimately has a cumulative immunosuppressant effect. Of particular significance for skin health are reduced levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1) observed in insomnia sufferers. At healthy levels, this protein triggers increased white blood cell production in response to foreign invaders and plays a central role in the production of collagen. Therefore when levels of IL-1 are too low, collagen formation deteriorates. This is how chronic insomnia can cause skin disorders related to immune dysfunction. In addition to inducing such inflammatory skin conditions as eczema and psoriasis, sleep deprivation has been shown to aggravate both allergic and irritant contact dermatitis.

Finally learning from this article and even others posted on this link will only be meaningful to you if you make another step of practicing what you are learning. Remember that how chronic insomnia destroys skin health can be very wide and elaborate. You must not allow these worthy pieces of information about protecting your skin go in vain. Get the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center involved in every step you take. This way doctor Akoury and her team of experts will help you revamp the beauty of your skin giving it a new lease of life for a very long time.

How Chronic Insomnia Destroys Skin Health – The importance of Sleep

Cutting the Calories in Foods & Drinks during the Holidays

November 26, 2014

Cutting the Calories in Foods & Drinks – The benefits of reducing calories during the holidays

Cutting the Calories in Foods & Drinks not just during the holidays is very important. What you eat will determine how much you lose.

If there is anything very frustrating for many, it must be the failure to keep the feeding discipline during the holidays. This frustration has actually made it difficult for cutting the calories in food and drink during the holidays. Realizing the gap doctor Akoury in her immense wisdom founded a health facility (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) for weight loss to help you cope with such challenges. Dr. Akoury is fellowship trained and certified in anti-aging functional and regenerative medicine, as well as having more than twenty years of accumulated experience in emergency medicine, pediatrics, and a master’s degree in public health. She has also served fellowships in pediatric hematology/oncology and has performed research in leukemia and the effects of smoking. Besides all these, at this facility (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center),doctor Akoury is also offering exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to the suffering society, other physicians and health care professionals through various means including training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars. For any concerns you may have in relation to any of the mention professional qualities, schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today. Back to the business of the day, the fear of gaining weight especially during the holiday seasons is gaining momentum every day. It is the open truth that the normal Christmas dinner is notorious for large portions and contains as much as 2,000 calories. This is the entire daily allotment of calories for most men and women. This may look such an uphill task, but it can be avoided. Doctor Akoury is discussing some of the ways which when adopted can help you reduce the calories which you may have consumed from those popular holiday foods and beverages.

Cutting the Calories in Foods & Drinks – Foods

What you eat is very important. Encourage the consumption of plain, nutritious fruits and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cranberries and green beans.

When using the sweet potatoes eat both outside and inside to get the fiber on the skin.
Try mixing pumpkin into some of your favorite bran muffins, soups, or even pumpkin-based pastas. Pumpkin pie is rich in fat and sugar, but if you must have it, at least skip the crust.
If you’re not a big fan of cranberries on your turkey, eat dried cranberries for a healthy snack.
Enjoy fresh, steamed green beans rather than the traditional high-calorie green bean casserole containing mushroom soup, cheese and butter. Or, make a lighter version using almonds, crunchy French onions and light butter instead of the soup, cheese and regular butter.

Cutting the Calories in Foods & Drinks – Complex Carbohydrates

Choose complex carbohydrates that help you maintain a steady metabolism without the highs and lows of blood-sugar swings e.g. whole grains; whole-wheat pasta; legumes; oatmeal; sweet potatoes and nut butters.

Cutting the Calories in Foods & Drinks – Turkey

Turkey is packed with protein and offers the least amount of fat of holiday meats, if you remove the skin and don’t drown it in gravy. White meat has less fat and calories than dark meat. A 3-ounce portion of meat is about the size of the palm of your hand or a deck of cards.

Cutting the Calories in Foods & Drinks – Beverages

Remember that your drink choices also add calories that can contribute to holiday weight gain. To help keep your holiday healthy, choose fat-free milk drinks and limit sugar sweetened beverages and alcohol.

Cutting the Calories in Foods & Drinks – Coffee Drinks

A mocha-flavored coffee drink can add 400-500 calories to your daily intake. That’s as many calories as some people consume at one meal! If your coffee drink is one of those 500-calorie drinks made from whole milk, then you will gain a pound in seven days. When you need a refreshing coffee drink while shopping, consider asking for fat-free milk and no whipped cream. This shaves off about 200 calories and makes it a more reasonable choice. Cutting the Calories in Foods & Drinks – Carbonated Beverages & Fruit Drinks These two beverages provide the most calories in the American diet, according to Science News. Adults get 14% of calories from sodas and fruit drinks containing less than 10% juice. One 20-ounce bottle of soda contains 250 calories, 16 teaspoons of sugar, and no nutrient value. Drinking one 20-ounce sugar sweetened soda per day packs on an extra pound of body weight in 14 days. Cutting the Calories in Foods & Drinks – Alcoholic Drinks Alcohol consumption is never friendly even though it is advisable that if you have to dink, then you must do it in moderation; however it would be good if you don’t drink at all Alcohol is very high in calories, containing seven calories per gram. The average alcoholic drink has 150-200 calories per glass. A drink made with one ounce of vodka (40% to 50% alcohol) contains about 14 grams of alcohol and almost 100 calories. Adding mixers (e.g. soft drinks, tonic water, fruit juice or cream) to an alcoholic beverage can contribute calories in addition to the calories from the alcohol itself. It is important that you put controls in calories by ordering drinks with diet soda or club soda instead of juice and regular sodas. Remember that:

A 12-ounce soda has about 150 calories
Diet soda has about 0-4 calories
Club soda is calorie-free

It is therefore advisable that you take ice water with a lemon slice between alcoholic drinks or as a non-alcoholic alternative. Remember that these are only guidelines as far as food consumption is concern. And like I had said before, cutting the calories during the holidays is not very easy. It will be very prudent that you get the experts opinion from time to time. Scheduling for an appointment with doctor Akoury would be very I deal as this will make you have a one on one with the professional. I encourage you to take that phone and call her today.

Cutting the Calories in Foods & Drinks – The benefits of reducing calories during the holidays

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