Obesity is a major health issue for an increasing number of children in the United States, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. About a third of American children and teenagers were obese or overweight as of 2010, notes the American Heart Association. The spreading problem of unhealthy childhood weight gain has become a top health issue for American parents.
Significance
Rising childhood obesity in the United States has caused increased childhood incidence of various health conditions that used to affect only adults, explains the American Heart Association. Examples include diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Children who are overweight also have a higher risk of becoming obese adults, which can increase their chances of developing related medical problems and even dying prematurely.
Dangers
Other dangers arising from childhood obesity include bone and joint complications, breathing difficulties, gall bladder and liver disease, early maturation, problems sleeping and a higher probability of heart disease. Obese children are more likely to experience psychological issues that make their childhoods less enjoyable, too, such as depression, lower self-confidence and a poor body image. Psychological problems often stem from negative reactions by peers, such as rejection and teasing. This can encourage obese children to adopt unhealthy eating habits, such as bulimia, to lose weight.
Determining Obesity in Children
Healthcare professionals use a measurement referred to as body mass index, or BMI, to determine if a child is obese. Based on a combination of a child's height and weight, the BMI value gives a general measurement of the child's body fat. Children are usually considered obese when they are above or at the 95th percentile. This means that 95 percent of the children who are the same age and gender have a lower BMI measurement.
Causes
Obesity in children results from a combination of behavioral, biological, cultural and genetic factors, points out the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Children gain excess weight when they consume more calories than their bodies burn for energy. Factors such as lack of exercise and their parents' weight also matter. A child is 50 percent more likely to be obese if one of her parents is obese, and having two obese parents increases the likelihood to 80 percent. Additional trends in the United States include consuming large portion sizes, eating outside the home more often, snacking on high-calorie foods and skipping breakfast regularly, reports the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Treatment
All obese children should undergo a complete medical examination to determine the cause of their obesity and develop a treatment plan to achieve a healthy weight. Such plans include learning techniques to change eating habits so the child will eat less and more nutritiously; exercising more often; and obtaining reinforcement through a support group, counseling or other guidance. Parents can help keep their obese children focused and motivated to lose weight, as well, by planning healthier meals, not using food as a reward and eating better themselves.
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