Hard
(Body Mass Index) ?
Right for me
Home :: Articles :: Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing. Body mass index (BMI) is acceptable for determining obesity for children two years of age and older. The normal range for BMI in children vary with age and sex.
The first problems to occur in obese children are usually emotional or psychological. Childhood obesity however can also lead to life threatening conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep problems, cancer, and other disorders. Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height.
Between 5-25 percent of children and teenagers in the United States are obese (Dietz, 1983). As with adults, the prevalence of obesity in the young varies by ethnic group. Obesity is present when total body weight is more than 25 percent fat in boys and more than 32 percent fat in girls.
Childhood obesity most likely results from an interaction of nutritional, psychological, familial, and physiological factors. The risk of becoming obese is greatest among children who have two obese parents (Dietz, 1983). This may be due to powerful genetic factors or to parental modeling of both eating and exercise behaviors, indirectly affecting the child's energy balance.
Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing. Body mass index (BMI) is acceptable for determining obesity for children two years of age and older. The normal range for BMI in children vary with age and sex.
The first problems to occur in obese children are usually emotional or psychological. Childhood obesity however can also lead to life threatening conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep problems, cancer, and other disorders. Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height.
Between 5-25 percent of children and teenagers in the United States are obese (Dietz, 1983). As with adults, the prevalence of obesity in the young varies by ethnic group. Obesity is present when total body weight is more than 25 percent fat in boys and more than 32 percent fat in girls.
Childhood obesity most likely results from an interaction of nutritional, psychological, familial, and physiological factors. The risk of becoming obese is greatest among children who have two obese parents (Dietz, 1983). This may be due to powerful genetic factors or to parental modeling of both eating and exercise behaviors, indirectly affecting the child's energy balance.
Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
More Articles:

