Causes and Effects of Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is a medical condition which occurs when the weight of the child is disproportionate to his age and height. This condition is mostly observed in children below the age of 15 years. Overeating, i.e. food intake more than the requirement of the body can lead to obesity among growing children.

Obesity in an individual can be measured by a tool known as Body Mass Index or BMI. To obtain BMI the weight of the individual in kilograms should be divided by his height in meter square. The normal range for BMI in individuals varies according to age and sex.

Causes of Childhood Obesity

The root cause for putting on extra weight at a very young age can be traced to the modern day lifestyle or genetically triggered phenomena. In this fast life people don't have the time to prepare healthy foods or even exercise. High calorie fast food has replaced the healthy diet and the absence of physical activity has just added to the woes. Children, today, prefer pizzas and burgers over nutritious salads and fruits. These junk foods with a high calorie count can lead to disproportionate weight gain.

Physical activities and weight gain have an inverse relationship; lesser the physical activity more will be the weight gain and vice versa. In this period of virtual gaming and television, children are hardly to be seen on the playground. Even educational institutes cut down on physical education classes to accommodate extra classroom study sessions in their busy schedule. Playing electronic games and watching television have become a favorite pass time activities for children, this extra rest is very harmful as the excess calories lead to weight gain, eventually leading to obesity. It is recommended to restrict the children from watching the television for more than 2 hours a day, and include some physical activity in their life at least for an hour everyday.

Genes, in living organisms, play a vital role in determining the body type. Statistics show that there are 80 % chances of the child becoming obese if both the parents are obese and 40 % chances if either of the parent is obese. Even some genetic disorders like Prader Willi Syndrome lead to obesity in children, but such cases are very rare.

Effects of Childhood Obesity

The effects of obesity in children can be divided into 2 categories; psychological effects and physical effects. The psychological effects include lowered self-esteem, depression, fear of being disliked by parents and friends or fear of being bullied by the other children. This may also lead to the child shying away, eventually becoming lonely and opting for anti-social things like drug abuse. The psychological effects, which, start showing at an early age, can make an tremendous impact on the whole life of the child.

Although the physical problems for an obese child may start a bit late, but these include life-threatening conditions such as cardiovascular risks like heart failure or stroke. The chances of the child suffering from Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol in future may increase due to obesity. It can also lead to sleep disorders, eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and early sexual maturity. They may also face problems such as lack of stamina, and bones and joint problems due to their overweight body mass.

Childhood obesity can prove to be a life threatening condition over a period of time. With growing age, the problems may become more severe. Prevention is better than cure so some steps need to be taken to ensure a healthy life for the children. Healthy diet, proper exercise and inculcating good habits in the child are some methods to solve the problem of obesity. Don't bribe the children with sweets and chocolates, don't force them to eat food when they are full; such things will only add to the problem. A doctor or a dietitian can be consulted for their valuable advice regarding a healthy diet plan and prevention of obesity.