A child or young person is considered obese when she is around 20 percent heavier than her ideal bodyweight. Obesity damages your child's health and well-being and may reduce her life expectancy. Obesity in younger indivduals may lead to social disabilities, unhappiness, stress and depression. Children grow at different rates. Ask your doctor whether your child's weight is within a healthy range.
Symptoms
Childhood and youth obesity occur when children and adolescents carry around too many extra pounds of fat. See your doctor if you believe your child or teenager is packing on too much extra weight. A sedentary lifestyle, a diet of mostly junk food and frequent or large meals may be causing the obesity. Your doctor can calculate your child's body mass index with age, gender, weight and height information. An adolescent or child may be obese if he has a BMI greater than 95 percent of children and youth of the same sex and in the same age group.
Complications
Obesity in children and youth increases the risk for developing health complications later in life, as well as in the shorter term. Obese children and teenagers can develop type 2 diabetes. Young individuals who are obese may develop high cholesterol and high blood pressure. These conditions may as a cluster of conditions that contribute to metabolic syndrome. Asthma, breathing problems and sleeping disorders may also plague obese children and adolescents.
Causes
Mayoclinic.com suggests that most cases of obesity in children and youth result from inactivity and eating too much food. Genetic diseases and hormonal disorders are potential but rare causes of obesity in these populations. Prader-Willi syndrome and Cushing's syndrome may lead to obesity in children and youth.
Treatment
Treatment for children younger than 7 emphasizes weight maintenance. Weight maintenance treatment assumes your child will grow into his or her weight, which reduces the BMI. Your healthcare provider may provide an exercise and diet plan for older children. The plan may encourage weight loss at a rate from one pound per week to one pound per month, depending on your child's individual condition. Children and teens should generally engage in physical activity or exercise for 30 to 60 minutes every day. Include the whole family in healthy eating practices to create a supportive environment. Meals should emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains and sources of lean protein. A nutritionist or personal trainer can help balance your child's calorie expenditure and calorie intake for weight loss.
Common Misconceptions
You cannot improve your child's obesity with a quick-fix like extreme or fad dieting and diet pills. Steady and gradual weight loss ensures successful, safe and long-term weight loss and weight maintenance. Your child's lifestyle practices may lead to ongoing weight gain as he or she grows. Do not depend on growth spurts to improve your child's weight. Heavy children and teenagers do not need to eat more to stay healthy.
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