Endocrine causes | Overweight in children

Endocrine causes

Endocrine (endocrine system) causes include in particular Cushing’s syndrome (including full moon face, truncal obesity) with disturbed function of the adrenal cortex. An increased cortisol production is present. This can be congenital or acquired.

Drugs (for example, long-term use of cortisone preparations) can trigger Cushing’s syndrome. Other endocrine causes could be hypothyroidism or increased insulin production. Acquired malfunctions of the pituitary gland (hypothalamus) are also possible, although very rare. This can be triggered by injuries, infections or tumor growth.

Hereditary diseases

There are some very rare hereditary diseases associated with obesity:

Genetic disposition

In twin studies the genetic predisposition as a cause of overweight has been examined in detail. Identical twins (identical in their genetic make-up), although they grew up in different living conditions, had surprisingly similar rates of obesity. This could prove a certain predisposition for the development of overweight. However, it is not overweight that is inherited, but the susceptibility to becoming overweight.

Social factors

In America, studies in 1997 showed a connection between the overweight of parents and their children. The probability that children will become overweight in the course of their lives is already greater if only one parent is overweight. Certainly, behavior, eating habits and preferences for certain foods within a social reference group also play a role.

The role model function of the parents is of particular importance. According to the latest study of the Federal Research Institute for Nutrition and Food (presented by Minister of Consumer Affairs Seehofer on 30. 1 2008) there is a connection between high body weight and social background (education, income).

For example, 35 percent of women from the lower social class are obese. In the upper class, this proportion is only 16 percent. Advertising and beauty ideals also influence behavior in different ways. A development of ‘overweight is just as possible as the development of eating disorders.