Well, I'm going to take the time to educate on the many "unknown" diseases that cause and/or contribute to obesity. People have this misconception that when you're fat you just eat too much of the wrong foods. Yes, this can be true in some cases but it's not always the case... as in LaNiyah's world.
Below you will find the many causes of childhood obesity & there symptoms:
1. Cushing’s disease
Cushing’s disease is a condition in which the pituitary gland releases too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ATCH). The pituitary gland is an organ of the endocrine system.
Cushing's disease is caused by a tumor or excess growth (hyperplasia) of the pituitary gland. This gland is located at the base of the brain.
People with Cushing's disease have too much ACTH. ACTH stimulates the production and release of cortisol, a stress hormone. Too much ACTH means too much cortisol.
Cortisol is normally released during stressful situations. It controls the body's use of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins and also helps reduce the immune system's response to swelling (inflammation).
2. Prader-Willi syndrome
Prader-Willi syndrome is a congenital (present from birth) disease that involves obesity, decreased muscle tone, decreased mental capacity, and sex glands that produce little or no hormones.
Prader-Willi syndrome is caused by a gene missing on part of chromosome 15. Normally, your parents each pass down a copy of this chromosome. Most patients with Prader-Willi syndrome are missing the genetic material on part of the father's chromosome. The remaining patients frequently have two copies of the mother's chromosome 15.
The genetic changes occur randomly. Patients usually do not have a family history of the condition.
4. ROHHAD
Rapid-onset Obesity with Hypothalamic dysfunction, Hypoventilation and Autonomic Dysregulation (ROHHAD syndrome) is a very rare disease. Patients with ROHHAD, as well as patients with Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS) have damaged the mechanism governing proper breathing. ROHHAD syndrome is a disease that is potentially lethal and incurable. Fifteen patients with ROHHAD were evaluated by Diego Ize-Ludlow et al. work published in 2007.
5. Leptin Resistance
Protein hormone produced by adipocytes; serves as one of inputs into signaling pathway believed to be involved in control of eating behavior. The hormone leptin can influence how much we feel like eating. A defective leptin gene will influence our eating patterns.
Read a great article about the leptin gene here, it is very interesting!
6. Bardet-Biedl syndrome
Bardet-Biedl syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects the brain and can cause multiple physical problems including a deterioration of the intellect and neurological functions. The syndrome sometimes affects eyesight with a condition called rod-cone dystrophy, a degeneration of light-sensitive cells in the periphery of the retina. This eye disorder causes night blindness, tunnel vision, decreased visual acuity, and photophobia (extreme sensitivity of the eyes to light). Other symptoms of Bardet-Biedl syndrome may include extra toes and/or fingers, mental retardation, kidney disease, and obesity.
7. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a hormonal imbalance linked to the way the body processes insulin after it has been produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar (glucose). Insulin Resistance, an underlying cause of PCOS, has many factors that contribute to its presence in the body.
8. Polydypsia
Psychogenic polydipsia is a form of polydipsia. Polydipsia is a medical symptom in which the patient displays excessive thirst. Polydipsia that is aggravated by a mental disorder is considered psychogenic polydipsia. Patients drink large quantities of water. Consequently, the patient produces excessive urine with a low electrolyte concentration, polyuria. The patient's kidney will be unable to manage the fluid overload and weight gain will result.
9. Other causes: cortisol hormone and metabolic disorders
And these are just the few that I've researched, people have told me about or that we're testing for, I'm sure there are other causes out there that we're not aware of.
Thank you and hopefully this will help open people's eyes that not everyone who is fat is fat because they want to be.
Though alot of us are, we have the choice to change our daily habits and lifestyles. So, in that case there is no excuse it's all about choice. :-)
I hope to have shedded some light. Please leave your comments on the blog!!!
Thank you!
LaToya "Toyiah Marquis" White