Facts on Childhood Obesity

The rate of childhood obesity amongst children of 6-11 years has tripled and among 2-five years has doubled… Roughly 1 out of 5 youngsters in the U.S. is obese. Obesity costs the NHS of UK around £1 billion a year and a further £2.3 to £2.6 billion in indirect costs.

This is a significant health condition where excess body fat the child carries affects his well-being, and also a significant public wellness concern due to rising rates amongst young children and adults.

Most young children will put on weight as they grow older. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but when this is truly a lot more than what they need for their growth- can lead to childhood obesity. Diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure are no longer limited to adults.

How can you tell if your child is overweight? A wellness expert calculates the child’s BMI and compares with the national average.

BMI- Body mass index is a statistical measurement that compares the child’s weight and height. Although it does not truly measure the percentage of body fat, it estimates a healthy body weight based on how tall they are.

Growth charts are used to figure out if they fall into ‘overweight’ or ‘obesity’ category. Aspects like ‘child’s activity level’, ‘eating habits’, ‘family’s history of obesity’ and ‘related well being issues, such as diabetes’.

Causes of Childhood Obesity:

• Bad nutrition habits and eating too significantly of junk food.

• Lack of exercise: Just like adults, children these days live a not so active lifestyle, they are spending too a lot time in front of pc, TV or video games.

• Genetic and hormonal causes: Being genetically predisposed to putting on weight. If the parents are overweight, children are fairly likely to grow to be overweight too. 
• Psychological reasons: Some young children overeat to cope with problems or to deal with emotions, such as anxiety or boredom.

• Socioeconomic factors: Children from low-income backgrounds are at greater risk of becoming obese. Poverty and obesity frequently go hand in hand simply because low-income parents could lack the time and resources to make healthy eating and physical exercise a family priority.

Effects on Health:

• The 1st issues to occur are psychological and emotional. Overweight kids are far more prone to being bullied and they are much more likely to suffer from low self-esteem and depression.

• Kind 2 diabetes used to be known as an adult illness, now it is observed in overweight youngsters too.

• Obese young children are a lot more likely to develop high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease.

• Liver disease.

• Risk of early puberty or menarche.

• Skin infections.

• Insomnia and sleep problems.

• Anorexia and bulimia.

• Asthma and other respiratory difficulties.