Childhood Obesity Risks

What Are The Risks of childhood Obesity?

When your child is overweight or obese, she is at risk for disease, illness and conditions associated with this obesity.  We talked a little about this before, but let’s take the time to go into more detail here.  If you need more incentive to get your child on track, consider the short-term and long-term health risks associated with their condition. You may not be surprised to learn that, as the incidence of obesity among children rises, pediatricians and other doctors are beginning to see a significant increase in diseases they rarely, if ever, used to see among their young patients.  Childhood obesity risks

“There are so many risks that are associated with childhood obesity that you will want to educate yourself about how to prevent those.”

• As we mentioned previously, these illnesses include:
  Type II diabetes
  Heart disease
  Joint problems related to weight bearing
  Self esteem and confidence issues
  High blood pressure
  High cholesterol
  Depression
  Sleep disruption
  Pulmonary problems
  70% increased chance in becoming an overweight adult (80% if at least one parent is also obese)
  To this list, we must add liver disease, headaches, gall bladder disease, digestive problems, polycystic ovary disease (in obese girls), Vitamin D deficiency, some types of cancer, deteriorating vision, vascular disease and a number of other conditions.
  You must realize that conditions like Type II diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, were once limited to the adult population. 
  Now, they pose a significant threat to the health of our youth!

Let’s look at these childhood obesity risks in more detail:
Type II Diabetes – Diabetes is a serious condition that requires dietary restrictions, and oral or injectible insulin.  
Even with appropriate treatment, diabetes has long-term health risks that include circulatory disease, an inability to heal from wounds and injuries, stress on the heart and pulmonary system, and even blindness, stroke and coma. 
Diabetes in children is nearly always due to obesity and lack of proper diet and exercise. 
Heart Disease – If your child is not getting enough of the right nutrients and enough exercise, they are at risk for early heart disease. 
These conditions can require medication and careful monitoring and may lead to long-term heart disease.
Joint and Weight Bearing – Short term growth issues, leg bowing, hip displacement and long term deterioration and disfigurement of the lower joints and bones. 
One of the worst effects of childhood obesity risks is Self Esteem and Confidence Issues – Children who are overweight or obese are self-conscious and typically have low self-esteem and confidence as compared to other children. They are less likely to TRY to meet challenges and therefore are often unaware of their own competence and skill in most areas of life. Children will often tease or bully overweight friends and classmates.  If you think this is happening to your child, involve the school administration and be sure that your child gets the support they need.
High Blood Pressure – Hypertension is a serious issue, especially in children.  High blood pressure puts a significant strain on your child’s growing body.  It can cause headaches, dizziness, and in some cases can cause stroke and other serious health risks.
High Cholesterol – Can be difficult to control with diet alone, and may require medication.  Among the risks of elevated ‘bad’ cholesterol:  Heart attack and stroke.
A new childhood obesity risks is the correlation to Depression – Obese children often suffer from depression because of their feelings of self-loathing and/or because of the way they are treated by others. 
Depression can also result from lack of exercise and inappropriate stimulation of brain chemicals that balance mood.
If your child is isolated by his obesity and has low self-esteem he may experience feelings of hopelessness and begin to lose interest in normal activities.  He may sleep more or less than he used to and he may be more emotional than normal. 

childhood obesity risks - Some children go in the opposite direction and demonstrate an emotionally ‘flat’ demeanor instead of being extremely emotional.  If you believe your child is depressed, you should talk with him and with your child’s teacher and doctor to agree on a team approach to the problem. In severe cases, doctors may prescribe medication to get your child through these temporarily trying times until you can get their physical and emotional health back on track.  Sleep Disruption – Lack of exercise can impede production and stimulation of the brain chemicals that control sleep and appetite patterns. 
If it is difficult for your child to breathe in certain positions, your child may also suffer from sleep disruption due to conditions like apnea. 
If your child is not getting enough sleep to help them grow and to give them mental clarity during the day, you will find that these abnormal sleep patterns will disrupt healthy growth and mental clarity. 
Pulmonary Problems – Asthma, wheezing, and shortness of breath are just some of the complications seen in obese children.
Skin Disorders – Overweight and obese children have a tendency toward skin conditions and inflammation, especially if the child has deep skin folds on their body on the abdomen, legs or arms.