Facts about Childhood Obesity

Sadly, high numbers (20%) of our children are overweight or obese.  Being overweight or obese can rob kids of their childhood, because these health conditions put children are at risk for a range of other health problems.  For example, an increase in obesity among minority children is linked to an increase in type 2 diabetes in these kids.

Did you know?

• Children and youth who are overweight or obese are more likely to have low self-esteem and feel badly about their bodies.  They are more likely to be depressed and develop eating disorders. 
• Bone and joint problems—associated with carrying excess body weight—can cause pain and restrict activity levels of overweight and obese children. 
• Overweight and obese children are also at risk for developing health problems more commonly seen adults, including:
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Insulin resistance
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Sleep apnea
  • Liver disease
• Obese children and adolescents are also 12 times more likely than other children to have high fasting blood glucose levels, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
• Early onset of puberty is common among overweight and obese children, and puts them at a higher risk for the some cancers during adulthood. 
• Most of overweight adolescents (80%) grow up to be overweight adults.  This means that they are more likely to have health problems in adulthood, such as heart attacks and strokes. 

Causes of Childhood Obesity

The root cause of childhood obesity is children gaining weight because they are eating too many calories and not moving around enough.

The tricky part about childhood obesity is that children need the calories provided in a variety of foods to grow and be healthy.  However, studies have found that overweight children eat more calories than they need to grow and do not get enough exercise.  The excess calories are stored as fat.  This can add up to an extra pound per year—and lead to children becoming overweight and obese.