I knew it was coming. Decades ago, Dr. Price warned it would happen. Even still, I was completely unprepared for what I saw in the Post Office line last week. Tears welled up in my eyes at the sight of an obese boy, probably about 11 years old, with a very clearly defined Dowager’s hump, one of the most obvious signs of osteoporosis! I couldn’t help but think how many gallons of soda that boy had consumed to leech enough calcium out of his bones to produce a hump at such a young age.
What is happening to our children? We see it all around us. Childhood obesity exploding to a point where nearly 1 in 3 children are overweight or obese by the age of 6. 1 in 4 teenagers are obese. Adult diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and probably very soon, osteoporosis, are skyrocketing. When will the degeneration reach a point where people return at last to a focus on nutrient dense, traditional foods for maintaining health, not just cutting calories and exercising, which have limited and short lived health benefits? How many more adult diseases must our children suffer before people stop spending 90% of every dollar on processed foods and, instead, shift to spending 90% on whole foods? Is the convenience of the fast food drive thru worth a Dowager’s hump in your child? Clearly not.
I sincerely hope that is the last Dowager’s hump I see on a child. Unfortunately, odds are that I will see a lot more before a majority of parents, and not just the select few, wise up.
To learn how to feed your child properly, ideally starting 6 months prior to conception, please visit the following link which contains all the information you need:
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
The hump could also be a dorsocervical fat pad, also known as "buffalo hump". This can occur in adults and children as part of a disease process (Cushings, pituitary gland tumor).
That is so sad. I didn't know that the hump was indicative of osteoporosis or at least a step in that direction.
Interesting you posted this – I was just thinking about how I want to make baby food for my daughter when she's 6 months or showing "signs of readiness" and was going to ask your suggestions for a diet. Now I will check out that link.