Sadly, a number of parents in our society can’t say NO to their children when it comes to eating food or making healthy eating choices. Even more sadly is that being overweight as a young adult or child might lead to early spine degeneration and deterioration according to a recent study from Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). In effect, this recent study shows that we as parents are setting our children up for back pain when all is said and done as they get older.
Almost two hundred (200) young adults and children from age 12 to 20 who said they suffer from back discomfort were studied. Surely, young adults and children were not allowed to participate in the study who had experienced conditions or issues that would pre-dispose them to back pain as well as traumatization from an accident to the back. Studies from research show that that there is a correlation between back discomfort and obesity or being overweight in young adults and children.
Furthermore, the study points out that over fifty percent (50) of the young adults and children studied had some abnormality in the lower back region or lumbar region of the spinal column. Miserably, most of those spine disc abnormalities arise within the discs on the spinal column. As you may have heard a spinal column disc disorder happens when a swelling or ruptured disc, which are the jelled cushions in between the bones of the spine put pressure on nerves which creates back pain and in all likelihood weakness.
According to the information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 percent of children (ages 6 – 11) and 18 percent young adults (ages 12 -19) are overweight in the US. That’s correct, that’s 33 percent or 1 in 3 of OUR young adults and children. Fundamentally, young adults and childen north of the 85th percentile are typically thought to be obese or overweight or at risk of being so.
Body Mass Index or BMI is a ratio of body weight and height which is a widely utilized as a measurement for obesity. Obviously, a lower BMI has a relationship with being underweight or a healthy body size. In addition, a higher BMI score has a interrelationship with being overweight.
Finally, the results of this study finds there is a strong link between increased BMI in yound adults and children with lower back pain more abnormalities of the spinal column for those with higher BMI.
According to the data from the study, this could be a proof of a significant health issues given the expense of back pain in the US.
We surely need to make some changes as parents so our children don’t suffer as adults.
