Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
Update Date: 2010/10/01
Reporter Wei Yijia / Taipei Report
Teenagers addicted to video games, even if they eat little daily and are not obese, may still develop fatty liver due to prolonged inactivity!
**Sitting for hours while engrossed in video games**
Tri-Service General Hospital recently treated a 15-year-old high school freshman who, despite his young age, had fatty liver. Upon inquiry, it was found that the boy ate very little and rarely consumed snacks, but he played video games for at least 3 hours daily, extending to 8 hours on weekends. Since gaming mostly involves sitting still, his basal metabolic rate was comparable to that of a 50- or 60-year-old woman, leading to fatty liver.
Many assume fatty liver is an adult issue, but foreign studies indicate that about one in ten Asian teenagers suffers from it, with boys more affected than girls. Teenagers with fatty liver face higher risks of liver disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases later in life, making it a serious concern.
Lin Yanru, a nutritionist at Tri-Service General Hospital, noted that the high school freshman was referred from pediatrics to a nutrition consultation due to his fatty liver condition.
The boy reported feeling constantly tired and frequently dozing off in class. His mother mentioned that he was picky and ate little, avoiding snacks, fried foods, and sugary drinks, preferring red meat while consuming minimal vegetables and fruit.
**Basal metabolic rate similar to an elderly woman’s**
Lin calculated that the boy’s daily food intake was only half to two-thirds of his peers'.
Further examination revealed the boy was 156 cm tall and weighed 58.2 kg, with a BMI of 23.9—not obese but overweight. Body composition tests showed low muscle mass, high body fat, and a basal metabolic rate below 1,200 kcal, compared to the normal range of 1,328–1,541 kcal. The main reasons were his sedentary lifestyle and gaming addiction since sixth grade, playing 3 hours on weekdays and over 8 hours on weekends. The nutritionist attributed his developmental issues and fatty liver to excessive saturated fat intake and insufficient activity.
A plan was devised with the boy’s mother: replacing red meat with white meat, consuming 3 servings of vegetables, 2 servings of fruit, and whole grains daily, along with 2 glasses of low-fat milk. Activity levels were increased, such as getting off the bus one stop early, and gaming time was limited to 1–2 hours daily. After six weeks, the boy grew 2.5 cm taller, lost 1.9 kg (including 1.3 kg of body fat), and his BMI dropped from 23.9 to 22.4—within the normal range. His energy levels and academic performance also improved.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 101001/ 78/ 2e3ki. html
Red Meat and No Exercise Lead to Fatty Liver in 15-Year-Old
Reporter Wei Yijia / Taipei Report
Teenagers addicted to video games, even if they eat little daily and are not obese, may still develop fatty liver due to prolonged inactivity!
**Sitting for hours while engrossed in video games**
Tri-Service General Hospital recently treated a 15-year-old high school freshman who, despite his young age, had fatty liver. Upon inquiry, it was found that the boy ate very little and rarely consumed snacks, but he played video games for at least 3 hours daily, extending to 8 hours on weekends. Since gaming mostly involves sitting still, his basal metabolic rate was comparable to that of a 50- or 60-year-old woman, leading to fatty liver.
Many assume fatty liver is an adult issue, but foreign studies indicate that about one in ten Asian teenagers suffers from it, with boys more affected than girls. Teenagers with fatty liver face higher risks of liver disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases later in life, making it a serious concern.
Lin Yanru, a nutritionist at Tri-Service General Hospital, noted that the high school freshman was referred from pediatrics to a nutrition consultation due to his fatty liver condition.
The boy reported feeling constantly tired and frequently dozing off in class. His mother mentioned that he was picky and ate little, avoiding snacks, fried foods, and sugary drinks, preferring red meat while consuming minimal vegetables and fruit.
**Basal metabolic rate similar to an elderly woman’s**
Lin calculated that the boy’s daily food intake was only half to two-thirds of his peers'.
Further examination revealed the boy was 156 cm tall and weighed 58.2 kg, with a BMI of 23.9—not obese but overweight. Body composition tests showed low muscle mass, high body fat, and a basal metabolic rate below 1,200 kcal, compared to the normal range of 1,328–1,541 kcal. The main reasons were his sedentary lifestyle and gaming addiction since sixth grade, playing 3 hours on weekdays and over 8 hours on weekends. The nutritionist attributed his developmental issues and fatty liver to excessive saturated fat intake and insufficient activity.
A plan was devised with the boy’s mother: replacing red meat with white meat, consuming 3 servings of vegetables, 2 servings of fruit, and whole grains daily, along with 2 glasses of low-fat milk. Activity levels were increased, such as getting off the bus one stop early, and gaming time was limited to 1–2 hours daily. After six weeks, the boy grew 2.5 cm taller, lost 1.9 kg (including 1.3 kg of body fat), and his BMI dropped from 23.9 to 22.4—within the normal range. His energy levels and academic performance also improved.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 101001/ 78/ 2e3ki. html