According to the Nemours Foundation, one out of three children in the United States is considered overweight or obese. The health consequences that result from being overweight are serious and can impact a child for the rest of her life. Understanding the dangers involved with being overweight as a child can help emphasize the seriousness of the problem and the need for action.
Cardiovascular Disease
Children who are overweight face the threat of cardiovascular disease. Blood cholesterol levels rise, which contributes to atherosclerosis, or plaque in the arteries. According to the University of California San Francisco Children's Hospital, atherosclerosis is the leading cause of heart disease. This condition puts your child at risk for heart attack and stroke.
High blood pressure is also associated with childhood obesity. This condition increases the heart's workload and puts an unhealthy strain on your child's cardiovascular system.
Type II Diabetes
Type II diabetes can be a consequence of your child's excess weight. This condition is chronic, meaning it can affect your child for the rest of his life, and involves serious changes in the way his body is able to process sugar.
Sleeping Problems
A potentially life-threatening condition called obstructive sleep apnea is a condition overweight children are at risk for developing. MayoClinic.com states that this disorder involves snoring or abnormal breathing, including short periods of no breathing at all, while your child is asleep. This condition can lead to heart failure over an extended period of time.
Breathing Problems
Asthma is a potential health risk for an overweight child, according to the Nemours Foundation. Because your child's respiratory system must work harder to move excess fat aside to expand her lungs, she has the potential to develop other breathing problems as well.
Early Maturation
Because excess fat leads to unhealthy imbalances in a girl's hormone levels, obesity can lead to an early onset of puberty as well as complications such as uterine fibroids later in life. The Nemours Foundation states that reaching puberty at an early age can put extra social pressure on your young daughter as she feels the need to look and act older than she really is.
Psychological Disorders
Overweight children face the challenges of psychological disorders such as depression, low self-esteem and behavior problems, according to MayoClinic.com. Being overweight singles out your child as an object for bullies and can create an increase in anxiety levels and poor performance in school and social settings. The Nemours Foundation warns that overweight children and adolescents are more likely to experiment with illicit substances. Additionally, these children are more likely to develop eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.
Member Comments