Child Obesity

Child Obesity

Child obesity is a serious health problem that could create problems for children later in life. Childhood obesity generally refers to children aged 6 to 11, while adolescents are aged 12 to 17. Defining obesity, except in extreme cases can be difficult. Many parents think their child is in a stage of growth, and he or she is not really obese. They say, he is a growing boy or girl, and he will grow out of it, it is just baby fat and things of that sort. One medical researcher defined obese children as those whose total body weight is 25% fat for boys and 32% fat for girls. Other measures are of the skin folds of the triceps, calves and other muscles. There is a greater likelihood that obese children will become obese adults. Childhood obesity can lead to a type of diabetes usually associated with adults (Type II) actually beginning during childhood and adolescent and coronary heart disease. . More commonly, overweight children are made fun of and insulted by their peers. This is often the most devastating consequence of childhood obesity.

Some researchers of children and adolescents in inner-city blame overeating on frequent going to fast food restaurants and fried hamburgers French fries and sugary drinks and deserts. Another culprit named in increasing the percentage of overweight children is the regular drinking of soft drinks with large amounts of added sugar. The risks of obesity are often associated with the child’s family. If the parents of the child are obese, often the child will be obese too, but this doesn’t mean it is because of hereditary. This can take place through the parents being a role model, having children overeat, and also lack of adequate exercise. Children who watch too much television, as in several hours a day, are at risk for obesity. If they spent this time out playing they would be in better physical shape. They sit in front of the television eating fatty and sugary snacks, and then can become fat. If there were more after-school physical activity programs, this problem could be dealt with in the best manner possible. Not all children who sit around for hours watching the tube become fat, so other factors are involved. Children have genetic factors which make them tend to be overweight. These are hard to distinguish from family and cultural activities that may make them overeat or not exercise enough.