Childhood Obesity-Know the Risks

For years we have grown up in an environment that assumes a fat baby is a healthy baby, but that really is NOT the case. Recent studies show that children, who are classified as being overweight when they are babies and toddlers, or are always at the top of the height and weight charts, will more than likely be overweight or obese at some point in their lives. Because of the health risks associated with obesity, it is imperative that parents understand the importance of helping their children avoid obesity, even at a very young age. In this article, you will learn about some of the known health risks that very well could affect your children, if you take a proactive approach to obesity now.

Possibly one of the biggest risks involved with childhood obesity is the tendency to stay obese later in life. Children don’t learn about healthy eating, and don’t really know how to make healthy food choices, so that when they are out on their own as teenagers and adults, they eat foods that just add on the pounds. Children whose parents lead an active lifestyle, with lots of exercise and physical activity, set a good example for their children as well, helping to reduce the risks of obesity for the entire family.

There have been many cases of juvenile diabetes in very young children, as young as five years of age, due to poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and being overweight. If no action is taken to get the weight under control and learn better eating and exercise habits, the child could have more serious complications from diabetes later in life, including blindness, organ failure, and possibly even loss of life.

Asthma and other breathing issues is also a common complaint among obese children. The more extra weight your body has to carry, the harder it is on your organs, especially your lungs. This can make outdoor physical activities painful and difficult, leading the child to be even more inactive, causing even more weight issues. Breathing issues can also lead to excessive fatigue, and even problems sleeping, which could seriously impact all aspects of your child’s life.

Overweight children often gat made fun of at school by their peers, leading to low self- esteem, depression, and even social anxiety disorders. Many teenagers have actually gone as far as to commit suicide due to self-esteem issues.

Internal organs are growing as your child ages, and extra weight can really put stress on these growing organs, which could lead to serious health problems later in life.

As you can see, childhood obesity is something every parent should be aware of, and should work to help prevent and overcome. If you have a child who is overweight, work with your doctor and nutritionist to develop safe, effective plan to help your child get back down to a normal, healthy weight, today!