Physical Effects Of Obesity In Children

According to the Center for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics, problems with obesity can affect children as young as two, with 11 percent of 2- to 5-year-olds being considered obese. Additionally, 15 percent of 6- to 11-year-olds and 18 percent of 12- to 19-year-olds can be considered obese. Obesity can place your child at risk for a series of physical disadvantages and diseases.

Type Two Diabetes

Overweight children are at a higher risk for developing type two diabetes. Although more widely known as an adult-related disease, increasingly more overweight children and adolescents are being diagnosed with the disease, according to the Langone Medical Center's Child Study Center. Type two diabetes is a serious condition that occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, resulting in problems with blood glucose (blood sugar).

High Cholesterol

Overweight children are also at risk for higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. High levels of LDL cholesterol can calcify in the arteries, putting children at risk for more serious heart problems as they grow older. According to research performed by the American Heart Association, the cholesterol plaque of an obese child can sometimes be as bad as that of a 45-year-old.

Asthma

Obesity can also increase a child's chances of developing asthma or other breathing problems. Excess body fat places pressure on the lungs of a child, possibly affecting her development. Abnormalities during development may increase the risks of lung-related problems during childhood, or later on in life.

Sleep Disorders

Obesity may also affect a child's ability to sleep due to problems with sleep apnea, according to Jodi A. Mindell, PhD, of the National Sleep Foundation. Sleep apnea occurs as a child periodically involuntarily stops breathing during the night, making it difficult to get a good night's rest.

Hormones

Childhood obesity may result in early puberty or menstruation, according to the Mayo Clinic. This is due to excess body fat affecting the production and balance of hormones in the body.