What are the Risks of Childhood Obesity?
One of the most disconcerting health issues related to childhood obesity is an increase in the prevalence of Type II diabetes among a younger age group.
Formerly, Type II diabetes was found only in the adult population (i.e. adult- onset diabetes). An alarming number of cases of the disease have been diagnosed among younger people in recent years.
Speaking in regard to type II diabetes, Howard J. Eisenson, M.D., director of the Duke Diet and Fitness Center, has said:
- "They're actually developing it earlier, in some cases in their teen-age years." 3
Kids' quality of life is directly affected by childhood obesity. Other side effects include daytime sleepiness, poor quality of sleep or breathing difficulties during sleep.
Being heavy also intensifies the stress on the weight-bearing joints, which increases chance of injury and causes an overall sense of fatigue.
Overweight children are more than twice as likely to have high levels of cholesterol as their slimmer counterparts. Obese children also can develop higher blood pressures than those at a normal weight.
Heart problems could occur sooner rather than later. According to Dr. Eisenson:
- "Researchers are predicting that, instead of seeing heart disease happening in their 50s and 60s, our kids might be subject to heart disease as early as their 20s..." 3
Research has shown that the longer a child remains obese, the more likely the chances that she will become an obese adult. Considering the myriad and life-threatening health risks of obesity in adulthood, there is, quite literally, no time like the present.
Continued: What if I Think My Child is Obese? >>
