Childhood Obesity Facts
Having an excessive amount of body fat is how obesity is defined. Being far more than a cosmetic concern, the issues associated with childhood obesity influence things like increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. A formula based on height and weight is what doctors use to determine obesity. It is called body mass index or BMI. According to the American Obesity Association’s web site- www.obesity.org, there is no disease in the twenty-first century that is more prevalent or fatal than obesity. It is the most chronic and relapsing disease of this century. Their website labels obesity as the leading cause of mortality in the United States today. Increases in the disease are threatening to strain our health care systems with millions of new cases of diabetes, heart-disease and disability, annually. It is said that one in three adults are obese. The implications are global.
Symptoms of Obesity
Symptoms of obesity include difficulty with sleeping, joint and back pain, daytime sleepiness or fatigue and depression. The presence of these symptoms is reason to see your doctor and to discuss weight loss options. Just a modest reduction of weight can have dramatic positive results for the health of a child. The most effective way to manage weight loss is still through changes to diet, increasing physical activity and behavior changes.
Contributors to Obesity
The causes of obesity are usually the result of several contributors. Genetic and hormonal influences are contributors. But the main cause of obesity is the same for children as it is for adults. Obesity is the result of the body taking in more calories than it burns by exercise and normal daily activities. Some of the major contributors to obesity in children and adults are: inactivity, unhealthy diet and eating habits, lack of sleep and certain medical conditions. Low metabolism and low thyroid function are unlikely causes, however.
Genetics and Environmental Factors
Certain things affect a child’s risk for obesity. Genetics which determine how much fat your body stores and how it is distributed have a determining influence. Family history is also a factor but not only because of genetics. Eating, lifestyle and activity are all part of a family history that influences obesity in children. If one or both parents are obese then there is an increased risk that the children will be also. In an article titled “Obesity” provided by Mayo Clinic.com, social and economic issues are sited as being linked to obesity. Things like limited access to a safe place to exercise, lack of financial resources for healthier fresh foods, and lack of education concerning proper nutrition are social-economical contributors to obesity. It is also known that a child is more likely to become obese if they have obese friends or relatives. One very important fact to remember is that these risk factors only increase the risk of obesity. They do not make it your fact. Most risk factors can be counteracted by physical activity and specific lifestyle changes.
Child Obesity Complications
There are a variety of complications associated with obesity having major life affecting implications. Blood lipid abnormalities and cancer are two of them. Children who are obese are more likely to develop gal bladder disease. Gynecological problems later in life are more likely to occur in girls who are obese. Other complications include heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.
Quality of life
We gain an even greater understanding of the seriousness of childhood obesity when we consider the other issues associated with the disease and how these affect quality of life. Issues such as depression, disability, physical discomfort, sexual problems, shame and social isolation are instrumental in shaping a child’s self esteem. These are life determining factors in the mind of children. And the implications reach far into adulthood.
Addressing the Issue
As formidable as is the diagnosis, the prognosis for obesity can be a very positive experience. There are many ways to address the issue of obesity. Methods of treatment are dependent on factors such as the level of obesity and over all health. Any treatment method should be prescribed by a health care professional after a thorough examination. The greatest contributing factor in recovering from obesity has always been, and still remains, willing participation in the process.
Treatment Plans
Treatment plans need be viewed as life-long changes of behavior that will enable a person to stay at a healthy weight for their entire lives. Some recommended treatment methods include dietary changes, behavior changes and exercise and activity changes in your life style. It is important to note that these efforts are most successful when they become the general commitment of the whole family and not just the efforts of certain individuals. This could very well be the greatest determining factor in the health and happiness of every family in our nation. It certainly offers us the best opportunity for putting our hands on something tangible which can vastly affect the outcome of our lives in a positive way. It is a rare gift in life to possess such a certainty.