Obese children are at risk of developing fatty liver disease

• Obese children have an increased risk of developing “fatty liver disease”
• Obese teenagers are almost 20 times more likely to develop fatty liver disease than other teenagers
• Fatty liver screening with a FibroScan can identify the condition before any symptoms occur

This causes an imbalance between the amount of energy gained and the lack of energy burned, which is eventually leading to obesity.

Conversely, some parents and guardians still view “chubby kids” as being cute. They fail to think about the negative effects that being fat can have on the child’s general health and development. This is especially the case in children who appear to have darkened skin around the neck, under the arms or anywhere the skin can rub and may look like dead skin, but which doesn’t come off when scrubbed. The darkened skin relates to higher insulin levels mostly found in those with prediabetes.

Children with obesity are at risk of developing high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia and sleep apnea. They even face a 22.5-44%* risk of developing fatty liver disease, a condition that typically affects people in middle age or the elderly.

The dangers of this condition occurring in children include inflammation of the liver or even liver cirrhosis, due to the high levels of liver membrane causing irregularities in the cells of the liver. What’s even more shocking is that children as young as eight years old can suffer from liver cirrhosis, while obese teenagers are almost 20 times more likely than other teenagers to develop fatty liver disease.

The child may just suffer from stomach aches and feeling exhausted. As these symptoms are often not particularly obvious, the parents may not even worry about them or consider that their child has a serious condition.

The simplest way to diagnose the condition is by an ultrasound scan of the liver, alongside examination of a blood sample to assess liver function. In cases where the child’s liver is functioning at a higher rate than normal, pediatricians will analyze that child’s medical history to see if they’ve been prescribed any medication and herbal supplements. Doctors will also assess any potential underlying medical condition that could lead to inflammation of the liver, such as a viral infection or the buildup of copper in the liver.

A FibroScan is a test that checks for liver stiffness by analyzing if there is an abnormally high amount of membrane present in the liver. Such a scan may be carried out at any time, regardless of any symptoms, in order to plan subsequent treatment that is both targeted and effective.

• Children who have pot-bellies or are overweight
• Children who have an ALT liver function rating of higher than 22, as these children are at risk of developing liver cirrhosis
• Children with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
• Children who have been on medication and herbal supplements for a prolonged period of time

• A simple process that yields fast results
• Completely free from pain
• Can help diagnose early onset of liver cirrhosis
• Enables tracking and analysis of the severity of the liver cirrhosis, and helps formulate a treatment plan thereafter
• May be used instead of a liver biopsy in patients who are unable or refuse to undergo such a process
• The one-time scan reveals the levels of fat accumulated in the liver for patients suffering from fatty liver

• Eat three square meals a day without fail, but ensure that the evening meal is not too heavy.
• Stop drinking sugary beverages, fizzy drinks, yoghurt drinks and fruit juices that come in cartons.
• Reduce consumption of foods that are high in saturated fat, such as fatty meats, butter, coconut cream, as well as foods that contain ingredients derived from coconut or palm oil.
• Stop eating unhealthy snacks in-between meals. Choose fruits instead.
• Exercise regularly for between 30-60 minutes per day, or help out with housework.
• Reduce any activities that have the child sitting in one place for any length of time, such as watching TV or playing computer games. Implement a 2-hour limit per day on watching TV or playing computer games.

With this in mind, parents may also want to adjust their own habits to fit these parameters, so as to set a better example for their child.

* The highest percentage chance that children with obesity will develop fatty liver disease.
(Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)