According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), between 16 and 33 percent of American children and adolescents are obese. Prevalence of obesity in children ages 12 to 19 skyrocketed from 5 percent in 1980 to 17.6 percent in 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Statistics show that obesity is quickly becoming a trend in today's youth. The health effects of childhood obesity are serious and should not be ignored.
Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart) is often associated with middle-aged or older people, but obese youth run the risk of this disease as well. In a study done by the CDC, 70 percent of obese youth showed at least one sign of cardiovascular disease risk, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and abnormal blood sugar levels. Even worse, 39 percent showed two or more signs.
Diabetes Risk
According to the Mayo Clinic, obese youth are at an elevated risk of contracting type 2 diabetes when their weight is well above average for their age and height. The CDC estimates that over 13,000 children are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which can affect the body by causing fatigue, blurred vision, dark spots on the skin and even frequent infections.
Social and Emotional Consequences
Obesity doesn't just affect the body. It can have a direct effect on a child's emotions and self-esteem, according to the CDC. Children who are obese often have less self-esteem than their peers and can have trouble adjusting to social situations due to their lack of confidence in their self-image. These can often lead to even worse conditions like depression, anxiety and even obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to AACAP.
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