Childhood Obesity

Not something to ignore

What is Childhood obesity • Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a

child's health or wellbeing. As methods to determine body fat directly are difficult, the diagnosis of obesity is often based on BMI. Due to the rising prevalence of obesity in children and its many adverse health effects it is being recognized as a serious public health concern.[1] The term overweight rather than obese is often used in children as it is less stigmatizing.[2]

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childhood_obesity

Childhood Obesity Facts

• Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.1, 2

• The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period.1, 2

• In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.1

• Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors.3 Obesity is defined as having excess body fat.4

• Overweight and obesity are the result of “caloric imbalance”—too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed—and are affected by various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors.5,6

• http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm

What are the health risks for children who are overweight or obese?

• Doctors and scientists are concerned about the rise of obesity in children and teens because obesity may lead to the following health problems:

• Heart disease• Type 2 diabetes• Asthma• Sleep apnea• Social discrimination• • Obese children may experience immediate health consequences which can lead to

weight-related health problems in adulthood. Obese children and teens have been found to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and abnormal glucose tolerance. In a sample of 5-to 17-year-olds, almost 60% of overweight children had at least one CVD risk factor and 25% of overweight children had two or more CVD risk factors. In addition, studies have shown that obese children and teens are more likely to become obese as adults.

Psychological factor

• In addition to suffering from poor physical health, overweight and obese children can often be targets of early social discrimination. The psychological stress of social stigmatization can cause low self-esteem which, in turn, can hinder academic and social functioning, and persist into adulthood. While research is still being conducted, there have been some studies showing that obese children are not learning as well as those who are not obese. Further, physical fitness has been shown to be associated with higher achievement.

• http://www.letsmove.gov/health-problems-and-childhood-obesity

Cite page• "Adolescent and School Health." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Feb. 2014. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.• "Childhood Obesity." - News. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.• "Childhood Obesity." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Apr. 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.• "Chinese Man 'ate Child's Brain' to Cure Epilepsy." NewsComAu. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr.

2014.• "For Parents and Friends." » McMahon / Ryan Child Advocacy Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 18

Apr. 2014.• Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.• "Froglogic David Rutherford Navy SEAL Motivational Speaker, Author and Coach: Childhood

Obesity Is Killing Our Kids! WAKE UP AMERICA!" Froglogic David Rutherford Navy SEAL Motivational Speaker, Author and Coach: Childhood Obesity Is Killing Our Kids! WAKE UP AMERICA! N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.

• "Let's Move." Health Problems and Childhood Obesity. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.• "September Is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month." Childhood Obesity

Awareness Month. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.• "Teen and Childhood Obesity." Teen and Childhood Obesity. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.