Childhood Obesity

Childhood and Teen Obesity

More people are overweight today than ever before, including children and teens. Experts refer to this as an "obesity epidemic."

Child-type Obesity

Our bodies increase the number of fat cells produced every year after we are born. So, from birth, we should expect the number of fat cells to increase. Based upon that physical consequence, obesity would most likely occur with age. Child obesity occurs when there is an over-production of fat cells from birth or at a very young age.

People who have Child-type obesity have 3-4 times more fat cells than people who became obese as adults. Child-type obesity is the most dangerous, because the fat cells increase from such a young age and it is harder on the system over time. In addition, it is harder to treat, because once the fat cells are produced by the body, it is extremely difficult to reduce the number of fat cells already manufactured. With Adult-type obesity, the number of fat cells produced at a younger age is close to normal, but the body increases the number of fat cells produced as it ages. This happens mostly after middle age.

Raising Child and Teen Obesity

This health problem affects young people as well as adults — one third of all kids between the ages of 2 and 19 are overweight or obese.� Diet, lack of exercise, poor eating-habits and emotional factors contribute to childhood and teen obesity, aside from hereditary factors.

With the rise of: high-fructose corn syrup in processed foods, dual-working parents, an increase in the consumption of convenient fast-food meals, a decrease in healthy meals, and � as technology replaced physical activity, America’s kids have become less healthy and more obese. In recent years, a response to this growing issue, many schools replaced “junk food” and soda with healthier choices for children and teens. In addition, the public and private education sectors that eliminated Physical Education to focus more on academics, also re-instituted physical activity as a part of the weekly curriculum.

Children and teens are now developing health and obesity problems that used to affect only adults, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type-2 diabetes. The earlier these problems develop, the harder it is on the body, over time.

The earlier childhood and teen obesity is diagnosed and treated, the better. If obesity is not detected and treated at a younger age, the health – related issues and risks only get worse and develop into more serious problems. Aside from the many physical issues, obese children and teens also run the risk of depression, emotional issues and suicide related to their weight and self-esteem.

The first step to diagnosing and treating childhood and teen obesity is by recognizing there is a potential problem. The next step is to make an appointment with a physician and treat the problem. Developing a treatment plan helps the child or teen make healthier choices. The final step is to support a healthy, active and balanced lifestyle.