Adolescent Boys, Stay Off Obesity Trap Else Be Ready to Nurture Asthmatic Offspring

Kid, C’mon, Strive Hard to Lose your Puppy Fat before it Becomes Dangerous

You might be well into your 30s and 40s but the mindset to pursue exercise as a daily physical activity might not have sunk within you until now. Diseases such as blood pressure and diabetes that were once branded as health conditions that were mostly restricted to the elderly population these days affect even adolescents. The rise of improper eating practises and abstinence from exercising exist as the basis for a number of health problems. Both men and women suffer from various health conditions and are even victims of infertility problems these days. Fertility rates are decreasing at a monumental rate and one in every four couples are unable to conceive naturally. A mother’s health condition was regarded with utmost importance for conceiving a baby. Women previously were married off at an early age and hence, also delivered babies at younger ages without suffering much from infertility problems. But now, women take time settling down-they want to be financially independent with a good job and a backup plan. Hence, marriage is delayed and childbirth is even more delayed.

Despite the fact that women empowerment has not received its due respect, rape and sexual assaults are still happening at high rates and men are considered to be the breadwinners of the family the blame placed on women for infertility problems has taken a U-turn, at least in most urban areas. Women, the sole victims who bore the entire blame for infertility problems decades back heave a sigh of relief as now science and research have come up with strong evidences showing that the male gender holds almost 50% responsibility for infertility issues among couples. Such startling messages do make each of us realize now that its not only the mother’s health but also the father’s health that is important for the child’s health. In fact, the dad’s health is important from the time the dad is a small boy! Surprising?

Reinstating the Fact that ‘Health is Wealth’
A study performed by researchers at a University showed that obese boys between the age of 8 and when their voice breaks are at a 2-fold risk of having children with asthma compared to other children. Obesity is already prominent everywhere and it is high time that we take appropriate interventions to curb this problem. Now, this devastating news that a boy child’s health affects his offspring’s health should be an eye-opener for all.

Aim for Portion Control Rather than Restricting Certain Foods during Adolescent Age

​The study showed that the future risk of asthma in offspring was applicable for future fathers only and not for future mothers and this one-sided connection was due to the development of reproductive cells during the pre-puberty years. In the case of girls, eggs are ready and not much changes happen during puberty but in the case of boys, germ cells develop into sperm cells during puberty only. Puberty is a vulnerable period for the male offspring and it is a strong indication that boys who would love to have an offspring in the future must plan for their child’s health beginning from their own childhood. This study gives a clear green signal that pre-puberty period for men is the best period for intervention and once they cross puberty it does not matter if the fathers as boys were obese before or after this specific period. But practically, while obesity might not be a concern for asthma after the period it exists as a serious threat to overall health. So, if you find your kids to be obese/overweight around the adolescent age there is no harm in meeting a registered dietitian nutritionist and getting a healthy diet plan chalked out for your kid to overcome the health hurdles that could erupt due to obesity.

---