The epidemic of child obesity is growing. Child obesity is considered by many to be an epidemic in developed Western countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. According to a 2007 report by the Trust for American’s Health, approximately 25 million children ages of 6 to 17 in the United States are either overweight or obese.

Childhood obesity is medically far more serious than most parents realise. It is a very real issue that is affecting millions of children each day. With the increasing rate of child obesity, paediatricians are becoming concerned of health problems among children that were rare in the past. Child obesity is directly related to a myriad of health complications as well as to poor quality of life, poor self-esteem and impaired social skills.

Obesity is usually defined as a weight greater than 20 percent of a person’s Ideal Body Weight (IBW). It can also be calculated using body mass index (BMI). Obesity is present when total body weight is more than 25 percent fat in boys and more than 32 percent fat in girls.

Problems of Obesity

Obesity is one of the worst health risks existing today because of the broad range of other diseases which it causes or makes worse. Obesity is associated with high triglycerides and decreased HDL cholesterol, and is the major cause of type 2 diabetes. Obesity can cause resistance to insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar.

It is associated with significant increases in hyperlipidemia, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, degenerative joint disease and psychosocial disability, and obesity is also linked to depression and problems of self image and with body dissatisfaction.

It is widely recognised to be a serious medical problem resulting in myriad distressing illnesses and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity (shortening life expectancy).

Specific Problems of child Obesity

• Being obese as a child can have a lifelong impact. As well as the same problems that adults face, research has shown that children who are obese or overweight often have weight problems when they grow up. Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.
• Obese children often suffer from teasing amongst their peers. Obese children also have increased average blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output when compared to non-obese peers.
• Obesity in childhood is known to be associated with abnormal indices of lipolysis, including high cholesterol levels (greater than 170 mg per dL). Being overweight affects school attendance as well, possibly leading to academic problems later.

How do we tackle this epidemic?

• Childhood obesity is usually caused by kids eating too much and exercising too little. Researchers have discovered the obese children were 35% less active on school days and 65% less active on weekends compared to non-obese children. Parents need to set an example, be a role model and give their children guidance on exercise and healthy eating. Kids of all ages will enjoy life better if they are taught to eat healthy foods and to get enough exercise.
• Children are more likely to be obese at if one or both parents are obese. As children tend to eat what their parents eat, parents can also help their kids by addressing their own weight issues and modelling a healthy lifestyle that they’d like their children to emulate. Parents should also rid their kitchens from junk foods and act as role models by monitoring their eating habits and not eating what they ask their children not to eat.
• Part of the problem of child obesity is that the parents rarely exercise as well.
• Participate in fun backyard sports with your children and consider taking up a sport with them or one that you practised when young.
• A child growing up in a stressful environment, such as one where the child’s parents are having marital problems, mentally or physically abusing the child, can make a child turn to food for the only interest in life and he or she can easily overeat at that point, promoting obesity.
• Parents can also set rules for the home that help reinforce the healthy lifestyle. Parents also must be concerned enough to want to do something about their children’s obesity.

Parents need to tackle the issue of childhood obesity to ensure that their children grow up to be happy and health adults. Don’t be lazy and set your children a good example on exercise and healthy eating.