Childhood Obesity
A recently spotlighted epidemic, childhood obesity rates have more than doubled in children 2-5 years and adolescents 12-19 years old, and it has more than tripled for children 6-11 years old over the past three decades(1). Children are reaching higher levels of obesity than ever before due to factors such as diet, exercise, and sleep patterns, just like adults. The major problem is that the consequences of childhood obesity are far greater than those of obesity developed in adults. Obesity is already a financial weight on society, being that millions are spent each year on diet plans and pills, and millions more are spent treating obesity related diseases in the population.
A recent study in the journal of pediatrics following 137 African Americans from birth to age 28 found that obesity at the age of 14 severely increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes as adults. In addition, according to the American Heart Association, adults with diabetes of either type are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease than their healthy counterparts(2). By some, childhood obesity is seen as an extension of an already existing problem that has been around for decades. For others, it is a wake up call, making a problem apparent that they previous did not want to see. But one that is now affecting future generations, ie their children and grandchildren, in an adverse manner.
No matter the perspective, people are looking for ways to solve the problem of early childhood obesity. Many diet pills are not used, because these people are in still developing bodies, and there is always more worry about any medication when it comes to children. However, there is now physician’s screening for childhood obesity, a stronger focus on recess or some kind of physical activity in their daily schedules, etc. There have been multiple studies conducted on manners in which to prevent or treat childhood obesity, and the medical bills are likewise stacking up.
Children now suffer from diseases previously associated only with adults such as elevated blood pressure leading to hypertension in adulthood(3), Type 2 Diabetes, thyroid disease, and even heart failure in some extreme cases(4). To combat this, parents need to take preventative measures for their children such as sending healthy lunches to school, getting kids involved in sports, controlling portion sizes, etc, just as we would do for ourselves.
1. Childhood Obesity In The United States: Facts & Figures. September 2004. http://www.iom.edu/Object.File/Master/22/606/FINALfactsandfigures2.pdf
2. http://health.msn.com/womens-health/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100216496&imageindex=7
3. Chiolero A, Burnier M, Paradis G, Paccaud F, Bovet P. [Blood pressure measurement and screening of hypertension in children] Institut de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne. arnaud.chiolero@chuv.ch
4. van Dalen EC et al. (2006) Clinical heart failure in a cohort of children treated with anthracyclines: a long-term follow-up study. Eur J Cancer 42: 3191–3198 PubMed
Tags: childhood obesity, obesity rates