Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It is a significant problem in the United States. It is now estimated that one in five children in the US is overweight. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height.
Childhood obesity is regarded as the most common prevalent nutritional disorder of US children and adolescents, and one of the most common problems seen by pediatricians. Obesity among children is leading to health problems that were once limited to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of weight adjusted for height used to determine weight status. Due to children’s changing body compositions over time and the different growth rates of boys and girls, BMI for children is age and gender specific. BMI is the most widely accepted screening tool for the initial assessment of body fatness/overweight/obesity in children and adolescents, and it is not a diagnostic measure because BMI is not a direct measure of body fatness.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000 growth charts, overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile, while obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex for children and adolescents (aged 2 to 19 years). Check BMI percentile calculator for child and teen to know if your child is overweight or obese.
Overweight and obesity in children increases the risk of the following health, social and emotional conditions.
Health complications associated with childhood obesity:
High cholesterol and high blood pressure: poor diet contributes to the development of high blood pressure or high cholesterol in your children leading to the build-up of plaques in the arteries. These plaques can cause arteries to narrow and harden, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke later in life.
Type 2 diabetes: it is a chronic condition in children affecting the way your child's body metabolizes sugar (glucose). Type 2 diabetes is partly caused by a poor diet, and can often be set right by eating healthier foods and exercising.
Metabolic syndrome: it is a cluster of conditions that can put your child at risk of developing heart disease, diabetes or other health problems including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and excess abdominal fat.
Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility): childhood obesity can create hormone imbalances in your child, which can cause puberty to start earlier than expected. It can also lead to infertility if the obesity remains unchanged in adults.
Asthma and other respiratory problems: being obese can cause problems with the development and health of your child's lungs, leading to asthma or other breathing problems.
Sleep disorders: sleep apnea, a complication of childhood obesity, is a condition in which your child may snore or have abnormal breathing when he or she sleeps. Pay attention to breathing problems your child may have while sleeping.
Social and emotional complications associated with childhood obesity:
Behavior and learning problems: compared with normal-weight children, overweight children tend to have more anxiety and poorer social skills. These problems may lead overweight children to act out and disrupt their classrooms or overweight children may socially withdraw. Stress and anxiety also interfere with learning. School-related anxiety can create declining academic performance.
Depression: in some overweight children low self-esteem can create overwhelming feelings of hopelessness. Children may become depressed when they lose hope that their lives will improve. A depressed child may lose interest in normal activities, sleep more than usual or cry a lot. Depression is as serious in children as in adults. Help and give the moral support needed if you think your child is depressed, and share your concerns with his or her doctor.
Low self-esteem and bullying: children often tease or bully their overweight peers, who suffer a loss of self-esteem and as a result, there will be an increased risk of depression.
Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It is a significant problem in the United States. It is now estimated that one in five children in the US is overweight. Overweight and obesity in children increases the risk of the many health, social and emotional conditions such as asthma, depression, behavior, and learning problems. It is important to treat childhood obesity before it leads to complications in children.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only; it should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his/her health should contact a licensed medical professional.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Facts of Childhood Obesity” Accessed December 27, 2010
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