Abstract
Statistics have confirmed that children with Down syndrome are at a higher risk of suffering from obesity. The understanding of some of the risk factors that can increase obese cases among Down syndrome children is therefore vital among primary caregivers. The adoption of an effective and early management and screening mechanisms addressing diabetes risk facts will be of critical importance in reducing excessive weight gain among children suffering from Down syndrome. The adoption of reliable and sustainable strategies will also be of essence in dealing with negative psychological and physiological outcomes associated with obese.
Modern scientists and health care professionals are concerned with the increased cases of obesity among children suffering from Down syndrome. Studies show that the number of children suffering from obese is increasing at an alarming rate especially in developed countries such as United States and United Kingdom. A study in United States also revealed that cases of obesity are even higher among children who are suffering from Down syndrome. Over 50% of children with Down syndrome in United States have been reported to be suffering from obese complications (Julie &Patricia, 2012).
Furthermore, owing to the negative outcomes and stereotypes linked to obesity complications, the adoption of a reliable and sustainable intervention and prevention measures need to be given the first priority in childcare giving exercise. In caring for children infected with Down syndrome, acknowledging and addressing some of the condition specific to diabetes will also be a critical step towards addressing obesity challenges among children with this special health complication. In most cases, a child suffering from diabetes presents some sign of hypothyroidism complication. Owing to the reduced body metabolic, rate among children with Down syndrome, a child suffering from diabetes experience slow growth and retardant development. Obese children who are suffering from Down syndrome also experience reduced basal metabolic rate. Basal metabolic rate is the condition where the amount of calories found in the body burns while the body is resting.
According to the recent research finding in United States, children suffering from Down syndrome have higher metabolic rate in their movement compared to the children who are not infected with Down syndrome complications. Down syndrome, infected children with some signs of diabetes also have increased amount of leptin hormones. Leptin are vital in regulating the amount of food intake in human body. Leptin stimulates and promotes energy homeostasis through energy expenditure. The presence of leptin hormone has been associated with the increased cases of obesity among children in contemporary society because they promote high intake of food in the body.
Children suffering from Down syndrome have a challenge of having poor mastication that increases their chances of getting diabetes infections. In most cases, children suffering from Down syndrome have a severe problem in eating vegetables and fruits that helps in the digestion of fats and carbohydrates in the body (Julie &Patricia, 2012). . The mastication problems therefore results to nutritional deficiency especially among individuals suffering from Down syndrome. Poor mastication also forces children to consume soft food that have higher concentration of fat, sugar, cholesterols, and carbohydrates. This increases one’s chances of developing health complications.
Studies have also confirmed that children with Down syndrome do not engage in vigorous physical activities hence increasing the amount of fat stored in the body. The increase in the concentration of the amount of fat stored in the body increases the risk of diabetes infections among children with Down syndrome. Children with Down syndrome also suffer from various behavioural tendencies such as inattention, noncompliance, negativity, inattention, disobedience, and impulsivity that affect their development and growth (Julie &Patricia, 2012). Some of the highlighted negative behaviours emerges in the situation where parents encourages children to engage in positive food choice and take part in other physical activities that would reduces chances of diabetes infections.
Undertaking thorough physical and health examination will on the other hand be of critical importance in diagnosing for diabetes among children suffering from Down syndrome. The understanding of the child history will be the initial point that would help in identifying the presence of diabetes among children with Down syndrome. Healthcare professionals should have a detailed record on children hospitalisation history, past medical examination, surgical procedures, and birth history in children with Down syndrome. The appreciation of the child medical history will also play a significant role in helping healthcare professionals in understanding the level and extent in which a child engages physical activities and other challenging behavioural problems that could result to diabetes. The knowledge on the family a child’s lifestyles will also be of critical importance in identifying the most effective means of dealing with diabetes challenges among children with Down syndrome.
Consequently, it is factual to observe and conclude that children with Down syndrome have higher obesity infection rate. The increase in the case of obesity among children with Down syndrome is linked to the unpopular behavioural tendencies and physiological mechanism among Down syndrome victims. It is therefore the role of healthcare professionals and caregivers to examine closely some of these unique behaviours presented by diabetes victims in order to act appropriately in dealing with any form of health complications among children with Down syndrome. Requesting for indicated laboratory test, engaging in physical examination, and examining the patient history are some of the vital steps towards addressing diabetes conditions among children with Down syndrome. With an aim of minimising diabetes condition among children with Down syndrome, caregivers should encourage their children to engage in vigorous physical activities.
References
Julie M. &Patricia R.,(2012). Obesity in Children with Down syndrome: Background and Recommendations for Management. Paediatric Nursing, 36 (6) 314-318
