Children who are at least 10 percent above their recommended body weight meet the criteria for a diagnosis of obesity. Because obesity has significant physical and psychological effects on children, parents, health-care providers and school administrators must take steps to teach children healthy eating habits and highlight the importance of physical activity.
Statistics
Statistics on childhood obesity indicate a growing problem. In 1980, 6.5 percent of children aged 6 to 11 were considered obese, according to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. In 2008, 19.6 percent of the children in the same age group were obese. The number of teens and adolescents considered obese also increased from 1980 to 2008. In 1980, only 5 percent of the children in this age group were obese. This number increased to 18.1 percent in 2008.
Significance
Childhood obesity represents a significant problem because of the health risks and economic impact of this condition. Obese children have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, bone and joint problems, and sleep apnea. Children with obesity also have an increased risk of low self-esteem and social problems. The economic costs of childhood obesity include increased costs for preventive services, health insurance premiums and obesity-related treatments.
Causes
Childhood obesity has several causes, but the major cause of obesity is a child consuming more calories than can be burned through physical activity. This can happen due overeating, lack of physical activity or a combination of the two. Genetic factors also impact the development of childhood obesity. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services explains that a child with two obese parents has a 75-percent chance of being overweight. Genetic factors also influence the amount of fat tissue in the body.
Psychological factors play another role in the development of childhood obesity. Children with family problems, depression, low self-esteem and peer problems may overeat as a coping mechanism. Stressful events, such as a parental separation or the death of a loved one, may also contribute to overeating and the development of obesity.
Screening
The BMI-for-age growth chart helps doctors screen for and diagnose obesity in children. After weighing a child, a doctor compares the child's weight with the weights of other children the same age and gender. Medical professionals consider a child obese when he is in the 95th percentile of the BMI-for-age chart. Other tests used in diagnosing obesity include lipid tests, hormone tests and the fasting blood-glucose test. The hormone tests check for hormone imbalances that could contribute to obesity.
Prevention/Solution
Several preventive measures could reduce childhood obesity. Encouraging children to exercise instead of engaging in sedentary activities can help them burn more calories and prevent weight gain. Teaching children to eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products instead of snack foods, sweets and fast food could prevent children from eating excess calories.
Because schools sometimes make fried foods, carbonated beverages and snack foods available to children, overhauling school lunch programs would make healthier foods available to children during the school day. Some schools are already taking steps to prevent obesity by removing soft drink machines from cafeterias and making salads, whole fruit and other healthful items available during lunch.
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