Obesity in Children

Obesity in children - causes

What is obesity?

Your body stores unused energy (kilojoules) as body fat. To maintain a healthy weight, you need to use (or ‘burn’) the energy from the foods you eat. If you eat more than you use, your body will store the extra energy as fat.

What are the reasons for obesity in children?

Food choices

Lack of physical activity

Spending a lot of time on sedentary pursuits

Overweight parents

Genetics

Is obesity only a national problem?
No , Its is increasing at alarming rates in many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
What do statistics show?
In Australia, one in five children and adolescents are either overweight or obese.
From 1985 to 1995 the number of overweight 7–15 year olds almost doubled. The numbers of obese children has more than tripled. At the current rate, it is predicted that 65 per cent of young Australians will be overweight or obese by 2020.
What is making the obesity problem worse?

The overall cost of food has gone down.

More food is prepared away from home.

Energy-dense foods and drinks are more readily available.

Portion sizes have increased.

Marketing of energy-dense foods and drinks has increased.

The use of cars has increased.

The number of two-income families has increased.

The time spent in paid employment has increased.

The role of physical education in the school curriculum has reduced.

Does obesity have an impact on children's health?

If yes, explain how?

Yes,It does.

Type 2 diabetes – while this condition is most commonly seen in adults, it is now also being diagnosed in  children

Eating disorders such as bulimia or binge eating

Orthopaedic disorders – problems with foot structure

Liver problems, including fatty liver

Respiratory disorders, such as blocked airways and restrictions in the chest wall, which cause breathlessness during exercise

Sleep apnoea – this is a condition that causes difficulty breathing when sleeping. It also causes snoring, waking often and poor sleep. It makes people feel tired and contributes to poor concentration during the day

Cardiomyopathy – a problem with the heart muscle, caused when extra effort is needed to pump blood.

What are the other impacts caused by obesity in children?

Obesity can have a major impact on how children feel about themselves and how they interact with others. Obese adolescents are more likely to have low self-esteem, which may impact on other aspects of their lives such as the development of friendships and competency at school.

What is the treatment?

It’s important to identify and start to reverse the condition before children become adults. Ideally,  overweight and obesity should be prevented. Lifestyle and diet changes can help children to maintain a healthy weight.