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Childhood obesity is caused by a lack of exercise and poor diet, including high-calorie snacks and fast food. Watching TV and using computers also contributes. Genetics and a mother’s health during pregnancy can also play a role. Obesity can lead to health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes.
The causes of childhood obesity are generally related to lifestyle choices, although it can also be caused by biological or genetic factors. Lack of exercise and a poor diet are the most common causes of this condition. Childhood obesity can lead to a host of other health problems in children, including conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, a child or adolescent is considered obese if their body mass index (BMI) is greater than 30.
In general, it is believed that one of the main causes of childhood obesity is a lack of physical activity. A 2005 Kaiser Family Foundation study found that most children spend an average of 44.5 hours a week watching television or using a computer or game console. Many children also do not walk to school and spend most of the school day sitting behind a desk. These children continue to consume calories, but they do not burn those calories with exercise. Therefore, excess calories are converted to fat.
Watching television often goes hand in hand with eating empty calories, another leading cause of childhood obesity. Studies conducted at the University of North Carolina show that junk food and snack foods account for almost a third of the average daily calorie intake of most American children. High-calorie snacks and beverages are often available to children from school vending machines. Since snacks are convenient and often appealing to children, they often fill up on unhealthy foods instead of eating nutritionally complete meals.
Another poor diet choice that contributes to childhood obesity is the frequent consumption of fast food. For many children and teens, going to a fast food restaurant is the most convenient way to get a quick and inexpensive lunch. Fast food advertising often targets children and teens, and young children are sometimes more attracted to the promise of a toy surprise with a meal. The fare at fast food restaurants is generally high in calories, providing fat, protein and carbohydrates, but lacking in fresh fruits and vegetables.
Some causes of childhood obesity appear to be related to the health of the pregnant mother. A mother who smokes during pregnancy is more likely to have an obese child, as is a mother who is overweight during her pregnancy. Studies have also shown that babies who are breastfed are less likely to become overweight or obese.
The genetic causes of childhood obesity are sometimes difficult to diagnose. In some families, poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle are passed down from parent to child. However, some children have a genetic predisposition to be overweight. Research suggests that some obese children share a genetic abnormality that may be the cause of their weight gain.
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