Childhood obesity increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and joint problems. BMI measurements determine obesity, with a BMI above the 95th percentile classified as obese. Psychological and self-esteem problems are also more likely to affect overweight children.
Many people underestimate the dangers of youthful obesity, rationalizing that diseases commonly associated with obesity, such as heart disease, are quite rare among children. In reality, however, children are at a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, blood pressure problems and other weight-related illnesses than normal-weight peers. Additionally, obese children are likely to continue the same lifestyle habits and remain obese as adults, increasing their risk of developing health problems.
Juvenile obesity is usually measured using the body mass index (BMI), a number that is calculated by dividing a child’s weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. Because boys and girls grow at different rates and are expected to have different body masses, the BMI considered “normal” for children depends on the child’s gender and age. The BMI measurement is then compared to percentiles established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine if the child is considered obese. The CDC classifies children with a BMI above the 95th percentile as obese. The percentage of overweight and obese children is steadily increasing.
In addition to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, obese children are also prone to sleep apnea and joint or bone problems due to the excess weight their growing body has to bear. Although these diseases are most often associated with adults, parents or caretakers of obese children should not underestimate the risks of juvenile obesity. Being obese in childhood increases your child’s chances of reaching puberty at an earlier age or developing respiratory problems such as asthma. Even if the weight problem does not negatively affect the child, failing to lose the excess weight before adulthood and drastically changing lifestyles puts the individual at a very high risk of developing health problems.
Psychological and self-esteem problems are also much more likely to affect people who were overweight as children, possibly due to the teasing and social stigma associated with youthful obesity. Sometimes this teasing and discrimination comes not only from peers but also from the child’s family, leading to a very unhealthy home environment. This can lead to the child developing severe insecurities and possibly becoming depressed. Learning unhealthy eating and exercise habits at home can lead your overweight or obese child to develop an eating disorder in an attempt to compensate and lose the excess weight.
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