Running head: METABOLIC DISEASE RISK 1 METABOLIC DISEASE RISK 8 Metabolic Disease Risk in Children Name: Institutional Affiliation: Instructor: Course: Date: Metabolic Disease Risk in Children Summary The metabolic process allows the breakdown of foods into small compounds. It is essential to note that disorder in the normal metabolism of the body normally leads to metabolic disease. Moreover, disruptions or abnormalities in the biochemical reactions lead to metabolism errors; hence, it is important to determine the exact cause of metabolic disease. Most people construe that hereditary factors cause metabolic disease in children alone, but the fact is wrong since other factors such as obesity and insulin resistance also cause the disease. The metabolic disease is usually inherited as an autosomal condition, which means that two copies of defective genes from both parents must exist for the disease to develop. Hoffmann (2002) contends that there is always a 25 percent chance that will inherit two defective gene copies from the carrier parents. It is also important to note that the hereditary argument is inconclusive since studies have shown that other factors such as mitochondrial overload, insulin resistance, and accumulation of fats also lead to a metabolic disorder. Insulin resistance leads to metabolic disease because the human body responds to physiological insulin level through the reduction of glucose uptake. The primary target of insulin action is the liver because it plays a major role when it comes to substrate metabolism. On the other hand, global concern about the increase in metabolic dysregulation among children has increased lately especially after some studies illustrated that there exists a positive correlation between metabolic disease and obesity. A recent survey has revealed that pediatric obesity is the leading risk factor for metabolic disease contrary to earlier assertions that the metabolic disease is purely hereditary. Obese children have a high chance of developing the metabolic disease as compared to other children. Introduction Metabolism is a very important process in the human body because the biochemical reactions and interconversions are what produce energy and other important compounds for the body. For the body to take up food, the food must be broken down into simple compounds through the metabolic process. Therefore, a disruption in the normal metabolism of the body is what normally leads to metabolic disease. According to Chen, Srinivasan, and Berenson (2008), enzymes play a critical role in the metabolic process because they speed up the biochemical reactions taking place at the cellular level. Any abnormality or disruption in the biochemical reactions and interconversions leads to metabolism ...

1. Running head: METABOLIC DISEASE RISK
1
METABOLIC DISEASE RISK
8
Metabolic Disease Risk in Children
Name:
Institutional Affiliation:
Instructor:
Course:
Date:
Metabolic Disease Risk in Children
Summary
The metabolic process allows the breakdown of foods into small
compounds. It is essential to note that disorder in the normal
metabolism of the body normally leads to metabolic disease.
Moreover, disruptions or abnormalities in the biochemical
reactions lead to metabolism errors; hence, it is important to
determine the exact cause of metabolic disease. Most people
construe that hereditary factors cause metabolic disease in

2. children alone, but the fact is wrong since other factors such as
obesity and insulin resistance also cause the disease. The
metabolic disease is usually inherited as an autosomal
condition, which means that two copies of defective genes from
both parents must exist for the disease to develop. Hoffmann
(2002) contends that there is always a 25 percent chance that
will inherit two defective gene copies from the carrier parents.
It is also important to note that the hereditary argument is
inconclusive since studies have shown that other factors such as
mitochondrial overload, insulin resistance, and accumulation of
fats also lead to a metabolic disorder. Insulin resistance leads to
metabolic disease because the human body responds to
physiological insulin level through the reduction of glucose
uptake. The primary target of insulin action is the liver because
it plays a major role when it comes to substrate metabolism. On
the other hand, global concern about the increase in metabolic
dysregulation among children has increased lately especially
after some studies illustrated that there exists a positive
correlation between metabolic disease and obesity. A recent
survey has revealed that pediatric obesity is the leading risk
factor for metabolic disease contrary to earlier assertions that
the metabolic disease is purely hereditary. Obese children have
a high chance of developing the metabolic disease as compared
to other children.
Introduction
Metabolism is a very important process in the human body
because the biochemical reactions and interconversions are what
produce energy and other important compounds for the body.
For the body to take up food, the food must be broken down into
simple compounds through the metabolic process. Therefore, a
disruption in the normal metabolism of the body is what
normally leads to metabolic disease. According to Chen,
Srinivasan, and Berenson (2008), enzymes play a critical role in
the metabolic process because they speed up the biochemical
reactions taking place at the cellular level. Any abnormality or
disruption in the biochemical reactions and interconversions

3. leads to metabolism errors. Enzymes normally control the rate
of chemical reactions and therefore, any defects in the enzyme
structure can affect the metabolic process (Twitter, 2016). Thus,
although metabolic disease in children is to some extent caused
by hereditary factors, the argument that the disease is purely
hereditary is not true.
Background of Issue
There has been an increasing global concern about the
increase in metabolic dysregulation among children, and this is
largely caused by the prevalence of pediatric obesity (Symplur,
2016). In addition to that, different scholars continue to argue
whether the metabolic disease is only caused by genetic
mutations or can also be caused by other risk factors. A recent
survey has revealed that pediatric obesity is the leading risk
factor for metabolic disease, and this is contrary to assertions
that the metabolic disease is purely hereditary. Obese children
have a high chance of developing the metabolic disease as
compared to children that are not obese (Symplur, 2016). A
recent survey also indicates that obese children are also
associated with cardiovascular risk factors associated with
metabolic diseases such as abdominal obesity, glucose
metabolism, and hypertension. The racial and pubertal
differences among children make it difficult to define the
metabolic disease (Twitter, 2016). Enzyme deficiency can lead
to the production of toxic products, the build-up of toxic
intermediate and a reduction of essential products in the body.
Counter-claim 1
The metabolic disease is normally inherited as an
autosomal condition. For the disease to develop there must be
two copies of defective genes from both parents(Hoffmann,
2002). Thus, the condition occurs as a kind of inheritance
pattern. It is not necessary for parents to have the disease for
the child to develop the disease but they are categorized as
carries as long as each has one defective gene copy. According
to Hoffmann (2002), there is always a 25 percent chance that
will inherit two defective gene copies from the carrier parents.

4. The disease cannot develop when there is only one copy of a
defective gene. One working copy can maintain sufficient levels
of the enzyme because of the recessive nature of the metabolic
disease.
Response
The hereditary argument makes some sense, but it is not a
good idea to confine the disease to hereditary factors because
research has shown that other factors such as mitochondrial
overload, insulin resistance, and accumulation of fats can also
lead to a metabolic disorder (Weiss, Bremer, & Lustig, 2013).
As such, the hereditary argument is not conclusive; thus, should
not be taken as scientific fact.
Counter-claim 2
Genetic mutations lead to enzyme defects through binding
of cofactors, creation of problems with transportation apart
from affecting enzyme structure and regulation(Clarke, 2005).
The metabolic disease is always inherited, and the condition is
known to cause enzyme deficiency.
Response
It is a fact that genetic mutations can lead to enzyme
errors, but this does not necessary means that it is the only
cause of such errors. Other factors such as mitochondrial
overload as well as insulin resistance can lead to enzyme errors
that can disrupt the metabolic process. It is also important to
point out that hereditary factors do not cause dysfunctional
cellular, and yet it can lead to the disruption of the normal
functioning of enzymes (Weiss et al., 2013). There are many
instances where parents may not have the defective gene copies
and yet their children end up developing the metabolic disease.
Moreover, obesity is among the leading risk factors for
metabolic disease, and yet it is just a lifestyle condition.
Enzyme deficiency may be caused by other factors apart from
mutations.
Unique point 1
Most studies and diagnosis have shown that obesity is a
major cause of metabolic disease in children. Although the

5. disease can also occur among lean children, it is important to
point out that obesity is a serious marker for the cardiovascular
disease. The various elements of the metabolic disease can be
caused by dysfunctional subcellular energy and mitochondrial
overload that result from lipid partitioning of specific fat
deposits. Mitochondrial overload is normally caused by various
factors such as the propensity of food intake, an increase in
insulin resistance, as well as sleep and stress deprivation (Weiss
et al., 2013). It is this mitochondrial that eventually leads to
early atherogenesis during childhood as well as altered glucose
metabolism. This type of overload also causes the adverse
biochemical phenotype. Obesity leads to a higher level of risk
factors for metabolic disease among children as a compared to
other major causes (Weiss et al., 2013). It is essential to note
that obesity is a major cause of metabolic disease; hence, the
diagnosis should remain cognizant of obesity’s implications.
Unique point 2
Insulin resistance is another leading cause of metabolic
disease because the human body responds to physiological
insulin level through the reduction of glucose uptake. Insulin
driven metabolic pathways are affected by the body response to
insulin levels (Weiss et al., 2013). There are up to three
categories of insulin resistance that can lead to and these
include hepatic insulin resistance, muscle insulin resistance as
well as adipose tissue insulin resistance. The primary target of
insulin action is the liver because it plays a major role when it
comes to substrate metabolism. Moreover, increased plasma
FFA levels, as well as the downstream of an insulin resistant
liver, disrupt the skeletal muscle uptake of insulin-mediated
glucose. In addition to that, the lipolysis process is also
accelerated by the insulin resistant state and in the process
increasing the release of FFA into circulation.
Conclusion
This article has discussed metabolic risk factors from all
sides with the main issue being the argument that the metabolic
disease is purely hereditary. However, research findings have

6. revealed that metabolic disease is not purely a hereditary
condition but can be caused by other non-hereditary factors
such as obesity, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial overload.
The fact that here are varieties of risk factors for metabolic
disease among children means that its definition cannot be
limited to genetics. Obese children are normally at a high risk
of developing the metabolic disease as compared to children
with normal weight. It is therefore very difficult to come up
with a definite conclusion on the cause of metabolic disease
among children because the disease is known to manifest itself
in different forms.
References
Chen, W., Srinivasan, S. R., & Berenson, G. S. (2008). Path
analysis of metabolic syndrome components in black versus
white children, adolescents, and adults: the Bogalusa Heart

7. Study. Annals of epidemiology,18(2), 85-91.Clarke, J. (2005).
A clinical guide to inherited metabolic diseases. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press. 60Hoffmann, G. (2002). Inherited
metabolic diseases. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
209-215
Sympler. (2016). #ChildhoodObesity? Retrieved 18, May 2015
from http://www.symplur.com/healthcare-
hashtags/childhoodobesity/.
Twitter. (2016). #metabolic disorders. Retrieved 18, May 2015
from https://twitter.com/hashtag/metabolic. 2016
Weiss, R., Bremer, A. A., & Lustig, R. H. (2013). What is
metabolic syndrome, and why are children getting it?. Annals of
the New York Academy of Sciences, 1281(1), 123-140.