Health Risks of Child Obesity – Why Being Overweight is a Problem

 

Childhood obesity is labeled by the medical community as the amassing of body fat levels higher than twenty-five percent in boys and thirty-two percent in girls. The rising concern over the health risks of child obesity has led to a nationwide endeavor to battle this disease. Schools have become the focal point of these efforts to prevent obesity in childhood, with the highlight on the food and beverages provided.

 

We all know that obesity can increase the possibility of certain chronic illnesses considerably. This is one of the health risks of child obesity. There has been a 400 percent increase in the quantity of obese children six years and older in the last twenty-five years, and a corresponding upsurge in “adult” diseases occurring in children that were previously attributed to environmental and genetic factors.

 

Some of the health risks of child obesity are emotional: negative treatment of obese children frequently leads to problems with self-image and self-esteem that can continue into later life. Cardiovascular health is another key concern for overweight children. Even for children, blocked arteries that stem from diets high in saturated fats, is a concern. Type II diabetes is now being found in overweight children as well – this was once thought to be an illness that only affected adults.

 

Being overweight can also have an effect on a child’s joints, breathing, sleep, disposition, and energy levels. Some of the other health risks of child obesity include Blount disease, arthritis, slipped capital femoral epiphyses, asthma, high cholesterol, gallstones, fatty liver, pseudotumor cerebri, polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance and depression. Fortunately, it’s never too late to adjust and successfully manage weight and the health problems it causes.

 

According to WebMD, there are huge benefits to losing weight. The site says, …even a modest weight loss of ten to twenty pounds can bring significant health improvements, such as lowering one’s blood pressure and cholesterol levels.”