The Causes of Obesity in Infants - Research Paper Example

? The Causes of Obesity in Infants ENG 122 Prof. Anne Marie Fowler May 15, “The Causes of Obesity in Infants” Webster's Dictionary defines obesity as: "A condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body". This can be caused by lack of physical activity and excessive calorie consumption or taking in more calories than you burn off. BMI or Body Mass Index is a tool used to determine over weight and obesity in both children and adults. "BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness for most children and teens and can be considered as an alternative for direct measures of body fat" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). In a journal published by the American Academy of Pediatrics researchers established that "childhood obesity may be caused factors that operate at the earliest stages of life," (Bagley, 2009). Fast foods and lack of physical activity may be the cause of obesity in many people, but it does not explain why "obesity in infants under 6 months has risen 73 percent since 1980", (Bagley, 2009). Babies certainly are not eating extra buttered popcorn at the movies, Big-Macs at MC Donald's or Sonic's milkshakes. Babies less than 6 months of age are drinking specially formulated baby formula or breast milk, and are just being introduced to baby foods at 6 months. So, what causes obesity in infants? Scientists believe that a number of factors may lead to obesity in infants. Not breast feeding, hormones inherited from parents, hormones that mother and child may have been exposed to through foods that were ingested during pregnancy, or exposure to toxins in commonly used household items like plastic spoons and plates. Further, some items used to feed babies like their bottles may contain some small traces of toxins, which are ingested during feedings. Retha Newbold (Bagley, 2009), of The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in North Carolina believed that emerging evidence shows being overweight is not just the result of making poor food choices, or lack of activity, but that exposure to environmental chemicals during development maybe contributing to the obesity epidemic in America. There is no doubt that while a woman is pregnant exposure to harmful chemicals can cause serious illnesses that become more apparent years and even decades later. It is not far-fetched to believe that fetuses and infants can be predisposed to obesity through hormones and chemicals. In a study conducted by Newbold, lab mice were injected with normal or the same levels of estrogen as people are generally exposed to in the environment. The study showed that in six months the mice that were exposed to the estrogen was 20 percent heavier and had 36 percent more body fats than mice that were not exposed to the estrogen. Newbold was made sure that both the exposed and the controlled mice in the study were fed the same amounts of food and were exposed to the same amount of activity. These implications are huge, and this study shows that there is a direct correlation between some hormones and obesity in infants. Bruce Blumberg (Bagley, 2009), a scientist at the University of California, Irvine said "there is a correlation between obesity and a lot of things, and that finding a link between hormones/ chemicals didn't mean much (Born To Be Big, 2009)." However, later Blumberg conducted his on study to find out if any links exist between harmful chemicals and obesity in infants. In his research study Blumberg specifically tested a chemical called tributyltin, which is commonly found in pesticides, fungicides, marine paints and some plastic products. " In 2006 he fed pregnant mice tributyltin, and found that their offspring were born with more fat already stored, more fat cells, and became 5 to 20 percent fatter by adulthood," (Bagley, 2009). All these studies highlight that obesity is not just eating more calorific food or more energy intake but is also influenced by various environmental as well as genetic factors. It is of the foremost apprehension that if obesity instigates at infancy it leads to weighty infants who are likely to grow as heavy adults. Moreover, obesity directly associates with diabetes, heart disease and cancer (How to Prevent Obesity in Infants). The research studies carried out by Dr. Gunter Dorner postulates that intercellular messengers, encompassing hormones, neurotransmitters as well as cytokines, are regulated by environment and heredity. They act as the organizers of the neuro-endocrine-immune system (NEIS). Thus, non-physiological concentration of these factors predisposed through precarious association or during the vital stages of life, act as “endogenous teratogens”, leading to pre- and early postpartum integrated, life-long glitches and ailments of reproduction, metabolic rate, and the circulatory disorders, of compassionate and malevolent growth, thereby affects the immune system (Dorner, 2008). Teratology deals with the study of malformations; it is the study of pre- and primary postnatally attained errors, which are repeatedly linked with microscopic abnormalities, particularly of the brain. It is essential to have a congenial environment during the prenatal and early postnatal connotation periods of the NEIS for the mother. The diet and the environment play a crucial role during this phase of life of the child (Dorner, 2008). It is imperative that during this phase mother should not witness iodine deficiency, gestational diabetes, oxygen deficiency, or any kind or gestoses infection. The diet must have sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals. The environment should be devoid of any kind of stress. Mother and child should not be exposed to ionizing radiation or any kind of hazardous chemicals capable of playing the role of “neuroendocrine disruptors” and “neuro-endocrine-immune teratogens”, respectively (Dorner, 2008). It is essential for the pregnant mother and also breast feeding mother not to consume alcohol, nicotine or drugs that may alter the metabolism of the child. It is imperative for the mother to stay happy and cheerful and does not undergo any kind of psychological stress or social deprivation. It is also reported that irregular concentration of hormone is also controlled by genetic predisposition, although these consequences are curable. It is essential that mothers should undergo thorough and regular medical check-ups for the identification and management of gestational diabetes, and oxygen sufficiency for the foetus and also for new born. The condition should not be suffocative. During this stage of development it is essential that any kind of infection must be prevented and this is done by means of vaccination (Dorner, 2008). Apart from these measures it is also essential that during this phase over as well as undernourishment be avoided and breast-feeding should be encouraged. It is also essential that iodine prophylaxis be optimized during pregnancy and lactation. More social interaction must be promoted. It is essential that well-timed modifications be done so that any anomalous concentrations of hormones, neurotransmitters and cytokines could be rectified. Therefore, the usual, methodological and communal pre- and initial postnatal atmosphere can programme life-long gene expression, thereby maintain the unifying effects of environment dependent hormones and neurotransmitter concentrations, optimizing the pre- and early postnatal environment signifying an excellent opportunity for chief, neuroendocrine protection of individual. All these directly influence the health of mother and an infant (Dorner, 2008). All the baby food items contain MSG if they are not labelled with “organic”. This is responsible for the neurological and psychiatric illness in youth. It is also demonstrated that it can lead to the impairment of brain functioning. It is also stated that food addiction starts in vitro. If mother consumes some kind of addictive foods then 99% of the infant equivocates food cravings and hence are more prone for obesity (Barling, 2010). Research reveals that adjournment in food tolerance in new-borns or infants is due to the addictive and hazardous chemicals being used in to manufacture the food additives. Such chemicals are being added to develop compulsive or obsessive eating to have more demand for their products thereby leading to the obesity. Colours being added to the food, genetically modified fruits and vegetables or any other food additive cause various health hazards encompassing allergies, intolerance for food items, headaches, asthma, retarded or stunted growth, obesity and other ailments. It is also proved through research by various scientists that chemicals incorporated in food are one of the major causes of the learning disabilities and autism (Barling, 2010). Moreover, under conditions of stress, depression and state of poor self-esteem, individuals tend to eat more than normal and thereby gain weight abnormally (Eating Disorders and Depression). One of the major concerns was the feeding habit that is adopted during infant stage and also during childhood that is responsible for the development of obesity. It is observed that instead of formula or solid food, breast feeding has substantially reduced the percentage of obesity by 20%. It was hypothesized that breast feeding prevents the development of obesity in the later part of development or life as it keeps a check on the weight gain during infant stage. The results procured by Koletzko et al (2009), display the fact that breast milk contains less of protein as compared to the formula food, suggesting that lower concentration of protein in the breast feed along with the limited amount of formula normalizes early growth and is capable of promoting long term health advancement (Koletzko et al, 2009). Researchers have specified the impact of birth feeding and the gain in weight in the initial months of life, and have displayed the effect on the childhood as well as adult obesity. Randomized studies indicate that if calorie intake is controlled then weight gain could be managed effectively; but in other studies no relation could be established regarding introduction of complementary food with the obesity. Some of the studies suggest that weaning time, the caloric density of the formula feed plays an imperative role in contributing to the obesity. On the other hand studies have been carried out concluding the prominence and role of appetite during the first month. It is also believed that genetics also plays an imperative role in deciding the kind of body composition. It is also believed that excessive intake of protein during the first two years of life also contributes to the obesity (Vidaihet, 2010). If one of the parents is obese then in 50% of the cases child is bound to be obese, on the other hand if both the parents are obese then in 80% of the cases child is obese, although obesity due to medical conditions is Read More