What Is Obesity
Childhood ObesityChildhood obesity is a fairly new developement—and it's one the poses a very serious health threat to our children. Sadly, many of the startling weight problems impacting adults are also impacting children across America. How do I know if my child is overweight? Trust your doctor to help you determine if your child is overweight. If my child is heavy now, will he or she always have a weight problem? Not all heavy children have weight problems as adults. However, as children get older, their risk for staying overweight increases. If one or both parents are overweight, the child will be more at risk for having weight problems. What's causing my child's weight problem? Could it be hormones? Over eating and eating too often Genetics Inactivity It's unlikely that your child has a hormone imbalance. Your physician can tell you if he or she feels more tests are indicated. But most children with a hormone imbalance grow slower than other children. If your child has excessive fatigue, constipation or dry skin, let your doctor know. What will obesity do to my child? An alarming trend in childhood obesity is the rise of obesity—related illnesses in children—the same illnesses that we see in adults. Physicians are seeing the following illnesses in obese children: Type 2 Diabetes—formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes has become increasingly prevalent among overweight children and adolescents. In the USA, up to 45% of children with newly diagnosed diabetes have Type 2 diabetes and most are overweight or obese at diagnosis. Other weight-related illnesses in children can include:
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