OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN CHILDREN – NOT JUST A NUTRITIONAL ISSUE

OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN CHILDREN – NOT JUST A NUTRITIONAL ISSUE 

❗ Childhood overweight and obesity are becoming increasingly common, and many parents often attribute the main cause to an unhealthy diet or lack of physical activity. However, behind those extra numbers on the scale may lie a serious underlying health issue that often goes unnoticed… 

❗ This is a real case of a 15-year-old girl from Hanoi who visited CarePlus due to rapid, unexplained weight gain. Despite receiving nutritional counseling and calorie control guidance, her weight continued to rise. She also developed stretch marks, became withdrawn, avoided social interaction, and frequently felt irritable. In addition, staying up late to study led to chronic sleep deprivation and persistent fatigue, causing significant concern for her family. 

👩🏻‍⚕️ At CarePlus, Dr. Le Thi Kim Dung, MSc – Pediatric Specialist, directly examined the patient and ordered advanced diagnostic tests included in the Comprehensive Obesity Screening Package. After a thorough evaluation, the doctor identified multiple contributing factors to the child’s weight gain: 

🔹 Imbalanced diet and unhealthy eating habits 
🔹 Sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity 
🔹 Irregular and unhealthy daily routines 
🔹 Genetic predisposition and environmental influences 
🔹 And notably, underlying endocrine disorders such as: growth hormone disorders, thyroid hormone imbalances, insulin resistance, and more 

👉 After systematically ruling out various factors, test results suggested the girl was suffering from hypothyroidism – an endocrine disorder that leads to uncontrollable weight gain even without overeating. This is a hidden but critical cause that is often overlooked when the focus is solely on nutrition and lifestyle. 

🔔 Treatment Outcome: 

She was referred to an endocrinologist for targeted treatment of hypothyroidism. Her weight and psychological condition have since stabilized. 

👩 Doctor’s Advice: 

This case clearly shows that weight gain in children is not always due to dietary issues – it may stem from underlying medical conditions that require careful evaluation and appropriate treatment. Ignoring warning signs and focusing solely on diet may result in missing the root cause, potentially impacting the child's long-term health. 

At CarePlus, our team of experienced and dedicated pediatricians, combined with modern medical equipment, is committed to supporting parents in their child’s health journey – from early detection to timely intervention – helping children grow up strong and healthy. 

👉 Don’t wait! If you notice any unusual signs in your child, message us on our fanpage or call the free hotline 1800 6116 for consultation and appointment booking.