Health Risks for Overweight and Obese Children
Too Much Body Fat Can Cause Disease and Shorten the Lives of Kids
Oct 25, 2009
Everyone knows that they “should” eat right and exercise, adults and children alike. And yet, approximately 155 million kids worldwide are overweight. Another 30 to 45 million kids are obese. Globally, 22 million children under five are overweight or obese. It’s predicted that by 2010, nearly 287 million kids around the world could be heavier than is healthy for them to be.
Worldwide Rates of Childhood Overweight and Obesity
In the United States, one in three kids is overweight or at risk of becoming so. In Spain in 2006, 41% of boys (age 5 to 18) and 31% of girls were overweight, with rates in other EU countries not far behind. In the UK, 1in 10 children starting primary school is obese.
According to the Department of Health and Aging in Australia, 1.5 million of those under 18 (about 1 in 4) are too heavy. A 2002 study carried out by the Asian Food Information Center in 4 Southeast Asian countries found that 1 of every 4 kids was too heavy.
The rates of childhood overweight and obesity are increasing globally. In Canada, the rate of adolescent overweight doubled between 1980 and 2005, and the obesity rate tripled. In Indonesia in 2000, 4% of children age 10-18 were overweight, an increase of 18% from 1993. In Thailand, the rate of obesity in kids between 5 and 12 rose from12% to 16% in just two years.
Long-Term Health Risks for Overweight Children
Researchers at Harvard University found that if a child is overweight in kindergarten, they are likely to stay that way; it’s estimated that 80% of overweight kids become overweight adults. For adults, being overweight or obese is a risk factor for health problems like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke, certain cancers and breathing difficulties.
It’s predicted that the epidemic of childhood overweight and obesity will shorten average life expectancies for the current generation of children relative to their parents’ generation.
Short-Term Health Risks for Overweight Children
A recent Yale University study of overweight kids (age 2 to 18) found that 1 in 4 already showed signs of pre-diabetes (insulin resistance), a condition that used to occur mainly in the elderly. Most children diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are overweight.
High blood pressure and heart disease have been linked to insulin resistance even in children. In the US, 60% of overweight kids already show at least one risk factor for heart disease, the number one cause of death for adults.
Overweight children also are at immediate risk of: liver disease, gallbladder disease, bone and joint problems and breathing problems. Overweight girls may experience early sexual maturation and menstrual problems. Sleep disorders, eating disorders, depression and substance abuse are a danger for some children.
The negative impacts of obesity on children are not only physical. Kids who are overweight miss more school than slimmer classmates. Even in regions where being overweight is the norm, heavy youngsters rate their quality of life comparable to children undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer.
How Do You Know if Your Child Is Overweight?
When so many children are overweight, it’s easy to think that your child is normal. Unfortunately, “normal” does not necessarily mean “healthy.” Studies show that the majority of parents of overweight or obese children do not even realize that their kids are too heavy. Determining your child’s healthy weight is complicated, because factors such as age, gender and ethnicity can come into play.
A good way to start is to use an on-line BMI calculator specifically designed for children and teenagers. Be aware that just because your child’s weight plots in the “healthy” range doesn’t guarantee that they are healthy. It does mean, however, that their chances of developing weight-related illnesses are minimized.
Related Articles
What Not to Eat: Give Up These Carbohydrate-Loaded Foods and Lose Weight
Are Low-Carb Diets Safe? Lose Weight Safely and Improve Health by Eating Less Carbohydrate
How to Start Losing Weight: Exercise Alone May Not Be Enough to Get Results
Sources:
International Obesity Task Force, Childhood Obesity Report, May 2004
US Center for Disease Control
Hedley AA, Ogden CL, Johnson CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, Flegal KM. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among US children, adolescents, and adults, 1999-2002. JAMA 2004. 291(23):2847-2850.
Shields M. Measured Obesity: Overweight Canadian children and adolescents (Findings from the Canadian Community Health Survey – Overweight Canadian children and adolescents); component of Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-620-MWE200500. ISSN: 1716-6713.
Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered to be medical advice. It is not meant to replace the advice of the physician who cares for your child. All medical advice and information should be considered to be incomplete without a physical exam, which is not possible without a visit to your doctor.
 |
