Children and obesity

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a term used to describe somebody who is very overweight, with a lot of body fat. 
 Overweight and obesity are the result of “caloric imbalance”—too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed, it is a condition that is associated with having an excess of body fat, defined by genetic and environmental factors


It is quite alarming the rate at which children these day are becoming very big and even fat to the point of being obese.

It looks like the parents are no longer taking into account and monitoring what really goes into the stomach of the children now a days. I remember the good old days that your mother was so concerned as to what goes into your body, my mum used to say that you will determine your size according to what goes into your mouth.

Some argue these days that obesity is not a result of over eating on the part of the very fat but i beg to disagree for how many fat people do u see in war torn ares where there is scarcity of food? A funny post i saw the other day said 'in America people pay good money to go to gym to loose weight while in Africa a lot do not even have the money to eat good food that would give them a healthy weight'




What are causes of Obesity?
 Causes of obesity in children include unhealthy food choices, lack of physical activity and family eating habits.

 Obesity in childhood leads to obesity in adulthood
Overweight or obese children are more likely to remain obese as adolescents and become overweight or obese adults. About 80 per cent of obese adolescents will become obese adults.

 Social problems for obese children and adolescents

Obesity can have a major impact on how children feel about themselves and how they interact with others. Obese adolescents are more likely to have low self-esteem, which may impact on other aspects of their lives, such as the development of friendships and competency at school.

Being obese as a child or adolescent increases the risk of a range of diseases and disorders in adulthood, regardless of whether the adult is obese or not. It’s important to identify and start to reverse the condition before children become adults. Ideally, overweight and obesity should be prevented.


Immediate health effects:

• Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. 
• Obese adolescents are more likely to have prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels indicate a high risk for development of diabetes.
• Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.

Long-term health effects:

• Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults and are therefore more at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.One study showed that children who became obese as early as age 2 were more likely to be obese as adults.
• Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk for many types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.¹⁵

 Potential health problems for obese children include:

• type 2 diabetes – while this condition is most commonly seen in adults, it is now also being diagnosed in children
• eating disorders such as bulimia or binge eating
• orthopaedic disorders – problems with foot structure
• liver problems, including fatty liver
• respiratory disorders, such as blocked airways and restrictions in the chest wall, which cause breathlessness during exercise
• sleep apnoea – this is a condition that causes difficulty breathing when sleeping. It also causes snoring, waking often and poor sleep. It makes people feel tired and contributes to poor concentration during the day
• cardiomyopathy – a problem with the heart muscle, caused when extra effort is needed to pump blood.

 Prevention and  Obesity

• Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating by focus on low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid saturated fat and limit sweets and alcohol,  regular and physical activity, exercise regularly (Moderately intense physical activities include fast walking and swimming) can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases^.
• The dietary and physical activity behaviors of children and adolescents are influenced by many sectors of society, including families, communities, schools, child care settings, medical care providers, faith-based institutions, government agencies, the media, and the food and beverage industries and entertainment industries.
• Schools play a particularly critical role by establishing a safe and supportive environment with policies and practices that support healthy behaviors. Schools also provide opportunities for students to learn about and practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.
• Monitor the weight regularly. children who are weighed at least once a week are more successful in keeping off excess pounds. Monitoring the child's weight can tell you whether your efforts are working and can help you detect small weight gains before they become big problems.

The various treatments of obesity in children and adolescents include:

• Diet therapy
• Physical activity
• Behavior modification
• Surgery

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