With up to one-third of all children and adolescents qualifying as obese, childhood weight problems have become a public health crisis. Although the factors leading children to become overweight are complex, poor eating habits, lack of physical activity, overeating, medical illnesses, certain medications, low self-esteem, mood disorders and a family history of obesity can all contribute to unhealthily high weights in youth. Carrying extra body fat can pose a number of physical, mental and emotional health hazards.
The factors that contribute to excess weight in the United States --- from lack of physical educational funding in public schools to the decline in physical activity during free time --- have allowed kids to pack on pounds at l...
One out every three children is now considered overweight or obese, KidsHealth reports. If your child is overweight or obese, alter his meals so that he consumes fewer calories and sheds unhealthy excess weight. Being overweigh...
The number of overweight and obese children in America has tripled since 1963. Excess weight places children at higher risk for serious medical conditions that are usually seen in adults. However, overweight children also conte...
Overweight and obese children are a growing public health concern, as these children have increased risks for chronic diseases. Public health officials worry that members of the young generation will have a shorter life expecta...
According to the American Heart Association, about one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese, nearly triple the rate in 1963. Children and teens are considered overweight if they are in the 95th percentile or...
The medical and public health communities have good reason to be concerned about the epidemic-level overweight and obesity rates among kids. Being overweight not only causes a number of health problems during childhood, but als...
You can suggest 100 activities to overweight kids, but they'll only participate in things they enjoy. Children may be embarrassed to try some activities because of their weight, so let them take the lead when it comes to choosi...
Kids in the United States are at a higher risk than ever of becoming overweight and obese, making it the top concern among parents, according to the American Heart Association. Addressing these weight problems as soon as possib...
Nineteen percent of kids ages 6 to 11 are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Being obese places kids at risk for developing adult chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure....
In 2003 to 2004, 17.1 percent of children and adolescents were overweight, representing a significant increase since 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Putting a kid on a diet is tricky, however....
Instead, parents should consider overall food and lifestyle changes that emphasize healthier behavior. Rather than counting calories and limiting food, offer more nutritious meals and snacks. The most effective diets for kids a...
At 11 years old, a child might start gaining weight if she is going through puberty. However, weight gain is OK as long as her bones, body fat and muscle are all in the right proportion, according to KidsHealth.org. Talk to you...
Increasing numbers of overweight children are suffering from such conditions as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. These conditions previously were consider...
At least one in five children in the United States is overweight, according to Athealth.com. While a number of factors contribute to this problem, the most common include genetics, poor eating habits and lack of physical activi...
Overweight children are most likely in poor physical shape because of a high-calorie diet and lack of exercise. To help kids lose weight, you'll need to make exercise activities compete with their computer or TV time--no small ...
It has increased by as much as 17 percent among certain age groups of school-age kids over the past three decades. Overweight children face a variety of physical and emotion challenges directly resulting from their obesity, som...
But because being overweight and obese can create so many problems for young bodies, parents must make it a priority in order to ensure the health of their children.
