Downs Syndrome Poses Obesity Risk By Phillip Longmire

Having a wife that works with life skill students I know there are all type of problems that arise with special needs students. Its sad because with students and or adults who have special needs will struggle with those needs their entire life, and now obesity seems to be just one more issue. I'm not sure there is an answer to this problem, but it seems that those who have Down's Syndrome posse obesity risk.

If your not sure what Downs Syndrome is, let me give you a working definition. It is a congenital disorder, caused by the presence of an extra 21st chromosome, in which the affected person has mild to moderate mental retardation, short stature, and a flattened facial profile. Also called trisomy

New research has shown that people who suffer from Down's Syndrome are more likely to become obese than those who do not have the condition.

Using families which had both children who had Down's Syndrome and brothers or sisters who did not, scientists were able to ensure that eating patterns offered by parents were very similar and that lifestyle choices and habits accrued as adults would not interfere with the study.

Monitoring 35 children with Down's Syndrome and 33 of their siblings who were free of the condition, researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that the Down's children had significantly higher body mass index and a higher percentage of body fat.

It was discovered that Down's Syndrome children had higher levels of leptin, a hormone linked to obesity, than their unaffected siblings. "The normal role of leptin is to suppress appetite and regulate body weight," explained senior author Dr Nicolas Stettler in the Jouranl of Paediatrics. "In general, obese people have higher levels of leptin, which suggests that they have some leptin resistance - their bodies do not respond to the hormone properly. Because Down's Syndrome is a chromosome disorder, children with Down's Syndrome may have a genetic predisposition to more severe leptin resistance."

Co-author Dr Sheela N Magge added: "Although the study had an advantage in including siblings as a control group, because this decreases the influence of different environments on children with or without Down's Syndrome, the sample size was limited, so larger studies are necessary. However, our findings may point to a useful approach to understanding why obesity often occurs in Down's Syndrome."

Around 60,000 people in the UK have Down's Syndrome and various charities have produced information for people with learning difficulties to advise them about making healthy eating choices which could help until more research is carried out.

I think as we advance in the fight against obesity and realize the effects it has, perhaps in the future this could be one less thing that people with special needs will have to battle. Because it seems in the earlier stages that people with Down's Syndrome poses obesity risk.

Phillip Longmire has a business degree and is the creator of fitness village [http://fitnessvillage.wordpress.com], a Blog dedicated to those trying to lose weight. He not only transformed his own life but is dedicated to helping others lose weight and live healthier lives.

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People With Down Syndrome Are Not Severely Handicapped By Mike Selvon

Until recently, people with Down syndrome were considered severely handicapped. Yet with better advocacy and pushes toward educational integration, adults with Down syndrome are getting married, working jobs, living independently and living well into their fifties.

Few people can forget the lovable character "Corky" on the hit TV series "Life Goes On," and how he constantly challenged stereotypes and unfair assumptions about those with such a disability. Advances in medicine, social normalization and the expansion of programs to help the disabled are credited with what is sometimes referred to as "the new generation" of Down syndrome.

People who are afflicted with this disability encounter many physical challenges that others do not. Their motor skill development is slow, so they will learn to breastfeed, roll over, walk and talk, as well as teeth later than other children their age. This can be frustrating for both the Down syndrome child and the parents who are repeatedly confronted with their own mistaken expectations.

Another physical risk is, of course, the associated health problems. Many babies with Down syndrome undergo heart, ear and eye surgeries before one year of age. There are later risks of epilepsy, obesity, heart disease, ear infections, thyroid disease, throat infections, pneumonia and osteoarthritis.

Everyday activities can be difficult for people with Down syndrome to cope with. Many disabled children are naturally empathetic and in tune with their parents emotions and they sense the frustration or stress the parents sometimes experience. The extra attention expected of parents is sometimes exhausting and overwhelming, so psychologists recommend that parents attend Down syndrome support meetings to talk to other parents who have Down syndrome children and learn new techniques for raising their disabled child.

One of the things that people with Down syndrome still struggle with is public misperceptions about their condition. For instance, they are often stereotyped as being always happy or "out of it," when in reality Down syndrome children experience a full range of emotions and have quite unique personality traits. However, there are certain coping strategies that work better. For example, routine and order help them control their lives better.

Additionally, self-talk helps them communicate, express themselves and make sense of what's going on. People with learning disabilities generally rebuke change, which has led to the misperception that they are stubborn by nature. Perhaps they are simply trying to understand what's going on and maintain control in their lives. Perhaps they just need a little extra patience from those around them.

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Just What is Downs Syndrome? By David Cowley

It's unfortunate that many people today just don't have the proper understanding of Downs Syndrome and what exactly this means. Some make wrong assumptions about those with this condition, their abilities, and their intelligence level. It's true that many with Downs Syndrome have typically lower than average cognitive abilities, but only a very small percentage of those with this condition are impaired enough to need constant supervision or to keep them from functioning on their own.

The actual condition itself is caused by a disorder of the chromosomes, with all or part of an extra twenty-first chromosome. There are some physical characteristics that are common among those with Downs Syndrome, including almond-shaped eyes caused by a fold in the eyelids. Some also have a particular type of crease on the hands, shorter limbs than average, poorer muscle tone than average, and a protruding tongue. Those with Downs Syndrome are often easy to spot because of these physical characteristics, but rarely do any of those with this condition have physical abnormalities that would keep him or her from functioning in normal circumstances. There is also an increased risk for heart defects, acid reflux disease, ear infection, sleep apnea, and often thyroid disease or disorders. Other than these conditions, those with Downs Syndrome rarely have any type of severe physical limitations or concerns.

This condition is different for everyone that has it in severity and limitations. However, most of those with Downs Syndrome are able to be integrated into public schools, sports, and the workplace. They may have certain limitations when it comes to their understanding of complex concepts but typically can handle money and a budget, manage their own apartment or home, and can also care for a baby when needed. The majority of those with this condition can care for themselves and their family as well as anyone else.

It's very shortsighted to assume that anyone with Downs Syndrome is severely disabled or unable to function or make decisions on his or her own. Again, this condition affects each patient differently, but the vast majority is just as functioning as anyone else.

Some years ago there was a very popular television series that revolved around a young man with Downs Syndrome, his family, and his schooling. They portrayed how successful he was in fitting in with other classmates, making decisions about his own activities, and even in running for class president. The TV series was very realistic about his limitations as well, but was an honest portrayal of what it's like to have this condition. Anyone with Downs Syndrome should be considered as capable and functioning as anyone else, and should be given every chance to succeed.

DO NOT GIVE CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS. It is believed that large unused quantifies of calcium inn the downs syndrome fetus was a major contributing factor in causing the health related problems. Common Vitamins and over the counter products may help with Downs Syndrome.

Boron is known as the calcium helper and assists calcium absorption and utilization in the body.

Vitamin E promotes the natural body healing mechanism and oxygen to the heart and other muscles in the body. In addition it improves circulation.

Ginkgo is needed for the proper functioning of the vascular system and for improving blood circulation to the brain.

Vitamin B is known to help maintain the normal vasodilatation.

Amino Acid helps regulate growth, digestion and maintaining the body's immune system.

Oat Bran helps to regulate blood glucose levels, aids in lowering cholesterol, and helps in the removal of toxins.

Vitamin C is essential for defending the body against pollution and infections and enhances the immune system.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

David Cowley has created numerous articles about the relationship between diseases and vitamins. Visit Health Related Articles Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Cowley

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