Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 35, Number 6, 1 June 2018 — Concerns about overweight [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Concerns about overweight

OLAKINO Y0UR HEALTH

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH.,R.D. Recently, a friend asked whieh heahh problem eoncerned me most. Without hesitation, I answered overweight, particularly among young adults and teenagers. When she asked why, I explained my concerns. First, weight gain increases cancer risks. Some doctors, like FIarvard epidemiologist Walt Willett, say cancer is a 99 percent certainty with overweight, involving a dozen different cancers. Breast cancer is one of the most likely cancers, due to increases

in estrogens in older women. In addition, overweight increases the likelihood of pancreatic, kidney and colorectal cancers that are associated with increases in insulin levels with obesity. 01der women with increases in both estrogen and insulin have 2.5 times the risk of cancer compared to those with lower estrogen levels. Another important eoneem is that excess weight ean lead to chronic, low-level inflammation that increases cancer risk, such as adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (throat). My second eoneem is that onee new fat cells are formed, they are difficult to lose and some resist loss. Researchers found that rapid weight gain creates new fat cells. ( These new fat cells are added mostly in the abdomen, while some are added in the leg. When weight loss occurred by reducing calories and adding exercise.

ī abdominal fat was lost, but leg fat ; remained. And, additional weight 1 loss did not assure that leg fat was lost. Some fat cells are reduced > in size with weight loss, however ī they remain in the body. This makes regaining weight mueh easier. r Thirdly, an oversized waist, even r with a "healthy weight" ean be a t problem, especially among men. ī Most problematic are waists that increase by about two inches, even in people who are not overweight. ; An oversized waist is a sign of visceral fat storage (fat buried deep in ; the belly) that is more harmful than ; fat deposited just under the skin. Visceral fat is closely linked to devel-

oping Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. There are other risks associated with severe overweight, but these are three important ones. My concerns for overweight occurring in adolescence includes emotional entanglements that are hard to overcome. Overweight during the teen years is associated with self-image difficulties, adding unnecessary stresses to teenagers. Then, if dieting is too severe during the adolescent period of active growth, it ean detract from the final growth in height. I worry that most youngsters have no idea of these serious risks of becoming overweight. And, sadly, they are frequent targets of fatty and sugary food sales that cause unhealthy and rapid weight gain. Eating saturated fat causes a gain of more visceral and liver fat. A high sugar consumption seems , to increase liver and deep belly fat in teens. This ean lead to nonaleoholie fatty liver disease and inflammation, over time. These risks are related to adolescent I lllustration: Nelson Gaspar

weight gain and obesity. A reasonable goal is to stay close to your weight at about 20 years of age...provided you had an optimum body weight. Slight weight gains show how easy it is to gain weight. Unfortunately, the subject of personal weight gain and severe overweight are always sensitive subjects to discuss. By early adulthood, everyone should know reasons that overweight and severe overweight are to be avoided. Then, we ean expect it to be our kuleana (responsibility) to maintain our health and control our weight. Kawena Pukui notes several fundamental points of importance related to life and one is, "rigorous eoneem for soundness of body is a primary consideration throughout physieal life." As parents, teachers and heahh care professionals, we must do our best to discuss maintaining a healthy weight throughout life with our children and young people within our personal reach, and for whom we have kuleana. ■