INFORMATION ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Obesity in children and adolescents is a serious issue with many health and social consequences that often continue into adulthood. Implementing prevention programs and getting a better understanding of treatment for youngsters is important to controlling the obesity epidemic.
Being overweight as a child can also cause psychological distress. Teasing about their appearance affects children’s confidence and self-esteem and can lead to isolation and depression.
The number of overweight and obese children in the UK has risen steadily over the past 20 years. This is now a major health concern

SYNONYMS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY

1. Overweight
2. Morbidly obese
3. Fat, adiposity
4. Corpulence, corpulency, body mass index
5. Hypothalamic obesity

CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Childhood Obesity causes include:-

1. Lack of regular exercise.
2. High frequency of television viewing, computer usage, and similar behavior that takes up time that can be used for physical activity.
3. Socioeconomic Statuses
4. Over-consumption of high-calorie foods. Some eating patterns that have been associated with this behavior are eating when not hungry, eating while watching TV or doing homework.
5. Some factors are over-exposure to advertising of foods that promote high-calorie foods and lack of recreational facilities.
6. Greater risk of obesity has been found in children of obese and overweight parents.

Overweight and obesity is related to technological, social, economic and environmental changes that have reduced physical activity and increased food access and passive energy consumption.

SYMPTOMS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY

The symptom of obesity is being grossly overweight according to standard growth charts. Complications of obesity include heart disease, hypertension, and some cancers.
If one parent is obese, there's a 50 percent chance that his or her children will be obese. When both parents are obese, their children have an 80 percent chance of obesity.
Many genetic and environmental factors contribute to the number of calories people eat and burn up, which is why weight loss and weight gain varies for different people

DIAGNOSIS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY

A child's weight is evaluated by his or her primary care pediatrician during regular check-ups and office visits. Weight issues rarely sprout rapidly but rather develop over time. If you think your child has a weight problem, make an appointment with his or her pediatrician or primary care doctor. Studies were included: if they assessed the ability of the body mass index to identify children with high body fat percentage; if they assessed relations between body mass index centile and obesity associated morbidity ; or if they compared subjective and objective assessment of obesity. Expert committee recommendations were also included.

TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY

An important part of treating obesity among children and adolescents is for parents and healthcare professionals to be sensitive to the youngsters and focus on the positive. Small and achievable weight loss goals should be set to avoid discouragement and to allow for the normal growth process. There are some structured weight loss programs such as Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig that allow older children and adolescents to participate with parental and medical permission.