Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 2, 2008 8:13:08 PM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Teen Obesity Can Cause Liver Disease, Cancer

Posted Sep 8, 08 4:16 PM CDT in Science & Health 

(AP) – In a new and disturbing twist on the obesity epidemic, some overweight teens have severe liver damage caused by too much body fat, and a handful have needed liver transplants, the AP reports. The condition, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure or liver cancer, is being seen in kids in the US, Europe, Australia and some developing countries. Experts warn that pediatricians to be more vigilant.

An estimated 2% to 5% of American children over age 5, nearly all of them obese or overweight, have a condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. As fat builds, the liver can become inflamed and scarred, leading to cirrhosis, a condition mostly caused by hepatitis or alcohol. Liver failure or liver cancer can follow, but fatty liver disease can be reversed through weight loss.

Source Associated Press

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Parents Blind to Their Fat Kids

    Dec 25, 07 3:20 PM CST
    Parents Blind to Their Fat Kids Nearly half the parents of severely overweight children ages 6 to 11 said their child was “about the right weight,” and only 13% recognized that their child had a severe problem, says a University of Michigan study. The results indicate parents think children will “grow out” of obesity or that something will change as they age, reports the AP. More »

  • Fat Kids Risk Adult Heart Health

    Dec 6, 07 5:29 AM CST
    Fat Kids Risk Adult Heart Health Overweight kids significantly increase their risk their heart disease later in life, a new study has found. Those who carried extra pounds between the ages of 7 and 13 were much more likely to develop heart disease between 25 and 71 even if they were slightly overweight and possibly even if they lost the extra pounds, according to the study in the New England Journal of Medicine. More »

  • American Kids' Blood Pressure Creeps Up

    Sep 11, 07 10:37 AM CDT
    American Kids' Blood Pressure Creeps Up The ranks of US children with dangerously high blood pressure and hypertension have been growing for 20 years, reversing a decades-long trend, says a new study that tracks the effects of youth obesity. Hypertension, which usually doesn't develop until patients are in their 30s or 40s, is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke, the Washington Post reports. More »

  • Fattest States in America

    Aug 27, 07 8:36 PM CDT
    Fattest States in America The Trust for America's Health has come out with its fourth annual report on obesity.  And the losers are:

    1. Mississippi
    2. West Virginia
    3. Alabama
    More »

  • FTC Subpoenas Food Giants on Marketing to Kids

    Aug 11, 07 4:33 PM CDT
    FTC Subpoenas Food Giants on Marketing to Kids The FTC dealt out 44 subpoenas yesterday to food companies, including McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and Kraft, seeking information on how much they spent on advertising to kids. The businesses have until November 1 to comply for a report the FTC is preparing for Congress on marketing practices and child obesity. More »

Irving Shaffino, 15, plays with a basketball in Shallowater, Texas, July 16, 2008. Irving developed liver disease and had a liver transplant in July of 2007.   (Zach Long)
Irving Shaffino, 15, poses with his bicycle in Shallowater, Texas, July 16, 2008. Irving developed liver disease and had a liver transplant in July of 2007.   (Zach Long)
Irving Shaffino, 15, poses with his mother Guadalupe Shaffino in Shallowater, Texas, July 16, 2008. Irving developed liver disease and had a liver transplant in July of 2007.   (Zach Long)
Irving Shaffino, 15, poses with his mother Guadalupe Shaffino in Shallowater, Texas, July 16, 2008. Irving developed liver disease and had a liver transplant in July of 2007.   (Zach Long)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Threads (
1
 of 2)

Tags

health • children • childhood obesity • fat • obese • liver cancer


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Science & Health Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »