Obesity and Autism
Recently, a study was published regarding a link between mother's health and autism. Interestingly enough, the titles of the articles reporting on this study all focused on one portion of the study, "Obesity linked to autism". And this is the problem with the media. It's called sensationalism.
The actual title of the study article is "Maternal Metabolic Conditions and Risk for Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders". No where in there does it say obesity.
Now to be fair, many people may not know what the term "metabolic conditions" means so maybe the media used obesity because it is easier to understand. Metabolic conditions refer to abnormal chemical reactions in your body that disrupt the process of converting food into energy. In this case, we are talking about diabaetes, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, hypertension and finally, obesity. The only reason obesity is included is because it increases the risk for developing Type II diabetes, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance and hypertension.
Back to the study...the offical conclusion is:
The prevalence of obesity and diabetes among US women of childbearing age is 34% and 8.7%, respectively. Our findings raise concerns that these maternal conditions may be associated with neurodevelopmental problems in children and therefore could have serious public health implications.
Obesity can cause diabetes and related conditions. Diabetes and insulin resistance cause problems of too little and too much sugar in the blood. That irregularity causes developmental problems in a developing fetus. And that...has been linked to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Saying obesity causes autism is like saying "guns kill". Guns don't kill, people with guns kill. Obesity doesn't cause autism, obesity may cause diabetes and that may cause autism.
I have friends who are thin and still had a child develop autism. I also have friends who are obese and their child did not develop diabetes.
Is obesity linked to autism? Yes. But more importantly, it is linked to metabolic disorders.
Be careful how you read what the media reports. Their intent is to sell papers and magazines or draw you to their website. To know the full truth, you may need to dig a little deeper.
The actual title of the study article is "Maternal Metabolic Conditions and Risk for Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders". No where in there does it say obesity.
Now to be fair, many people may not know what the term "metabolic conditions" means so maybe the media used obesity because it is easier to understand. Metabolic conditions refer to abnormal chemical reactions in your body that disrupt the process of converting food into energy. In this case, we are talking about diabaetes, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, hypertension and finally, obesity. The only reason obesity is included is because it increases the risk for developing Type II diabetes, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance and hypertension.
Back to the study...the offical conclusion is:
The prevalence of obesity and diabetes among US women of childbearing age is 34% and 8.7%, respectively. Our findings raise concerns that these maternal conditions may be associated with neurodevelopmental problems in children and therefore could have serious public health implications.
Obesity can cause diabetes and related conditions. Diabetes and insulin resistance cause problems of too little and too much sugar in the blood. That irregularity causes developmental problems in a developing fetus. And that...has been linked to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Saying obesity causes autism is like saying "guns kill". Guns don't kill, people with guns kill. Obesity doesn't cause autism, obesity may cause diabetes and that may cause autism.
I have friends who are thin and still had a child develop autism. I also have friends who are obese and their child did not develop diabetes.
Is obesity linked to autism? Yes. But more importantly, it is linked to metabolic disorders.
Be careful how you read what the media reports. Their intent is to sell papers and magazines or draw you to their website. To know the full truth, you may need to dig a little deeper.
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