Obesity rates among children from 6 to 11 in the United States has more than tripled in the past 30 years, according to the American Public Health Association. Among children and adolescents between 12 and 19, obesity rates have more than doubled in the same period. Obesity increases the risk of health problems such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Children might be more at risk for obesity and these medical conditions depending on their gender and other factors.
Obesity and Gender
While both boys and girls are affected by obesity, certain groups are more vulnerable. At more than 27 percent of children and teens, Mexican American boys are much more likely to be obese than other boys. For girls, African-Americans are most at risk for obesity, representing 22 percent of children and 27 percent of adolescents who are obese, according to the American Public Health Association.
Gender Trends
While Mexican American boys had significantly higher obesity rates between 2007 and 2008 than non-Hispanic white adolescent boys, in the period between 1988 and 1994 there was no significant difference in prevalence, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That was not the case for girls. Non-Hispanic black girls were more likely to be obese between 2007 and 2008 as well as from 1988 to 1994.
Risk Factors
On a biological level, childhood obesity is due to your child consuming more calories than he burns, but several complex social, environmental and policy factors contribute to the problem. For instance, living in urban or suburban communities that discourage walking and other forms of exercise, food costs and convenience of fattening foods also play a role, according to the Institute of Medicine. Other factors include a lack of access to healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables in some neighborhoods, too much TV viewing time and a lack of physical activity programs at school.
Preventing Childhood Obesity
Limit the amount of television your child watches to two hours a day. Encourage your child to spend at least one hour each day doing physical activity such as walking, playing a sport, dancing or martial arts. Make sure your child gets at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily and limit sugar-sweetened beverages.
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