childhood obesity, overweight children

Childhood obesity is becoming more common thanks to sedentary life style and greater consumption of junk food and soft drinks containing empty calories.

Many children are influenced by ads they see on TV showing their favorite celebrities holding a bottle of soft drink in their hands and pester their parents to get those soft drinks.

The usual underlying mechanism is imbalance between caloric consumption and caloric expenditure. The extra energy that is not consumed, is deposited as fat causing obesity.

There are many causes of obesity internal and external. There is strong correlation between obesity in parents and childhood obesity. If both parents are obese the risk increases considerably.

Definition: While gross obesity is very obvious and does not need any measurement or calculation it is very important to detect overweight at the earliest so that corrective measures can be taken before it is too late. The most widely used indicator of obesity is Body Mass Index (BMI).

This is derived by dividing the body weight in kilograms by the square of body height in meters. Those with a BMI between 86th and 95th percentiles are at risk of developing obesity.

Those at and above the 95th percentile are labeled as obese. BMI is useful for older children, adolescents and adults. For younger children the weight has to be compared with a standard weight chart.

Please enter the weight in KILOS and height in CENTIMETERS and click on calculate.

Please choose the height by clicking on the arrows, enter the weight in POUNDS and click on compute BMI.

For those who are not familiar with the word percentile here is a brief explanation. If we take one hundred people of same height at random there will be variation in body weight. If we arrange them in an ascending order the positions are called percentiles (it can be used for any other parameter). Those between the 10th and 90th positions (percentiles) are unlikely to have any abnormality.

There are some diseases which can cause obesity. Though not very common it it important to detect them so that proper treatment can be initiated.

Hypothyroidism: Deficiency of thyroid hormone causes childhood obesity due to decreased energy expenditure. Other features are constipation, lethargy and dry skin.

Cushing's syndrome: This condition results from increased production of certain harmonies from the adrenal gland. Other features are hypertension and elevation of blood glucose level.

Sex hormone deficiency: Deficiency of certain sex harmonies can cause obesity. This is more common in boys.

These are very uncommon causes of childhood obesity. Lawrence Moon Biedl syndrome is associated with mental retardation and eye abnormalities. Prader-Willi syndrome is associated with flaccidity of limbs.

Dietary factors: Absence of family meals, frequent consumption of sweetened beverages, junk food and ready to eat snacks contribute to obesity.

Healthy diet should contain adequate amount of high fiber foods which induce a feeling of satiety. If the diet is low in fiber people tend to eat more frequently leading to consumption of more calories. Many people eat a heavy dinner which is an unhealthy habit especially when eaten late in the night .

People should cultivate the habit of consuming heavy breakfast, moderate lunch and light dinner. It is good to include raw salads for dinner. Take a walk after dinner. Going to bed soon after dinner also increases the risk of obesity.

Habits: Lack of exercises is another major contributing factor. Many children spend a lot of time watching TV and playing video games. It is also common for children to keep eating some ready to eat snack while watching TV.

Childhood obesity should not be taken lightly. It is better to tackle it during childhood itself. Obese children tend to become obese adults and the longer it lasts the more difficult it becomes to manage it.

There is a definite association between obesity and type 2 diabetes. Obesity causes resistance to insulin thus predisposing to diabetes.

Joint problems are more common in obese individuals as they have to bear more weight increasing the wear and tear. It is believed that obesity predisposes to hypertension with its complications.

Almost all obese children suffer from psychological problems. Low self esteem results from difficulty in participating in games as normal children do. Other children start teasing them adding fuel to fire. Depression is also quite common.

The aim should be to reduce weight gradually and not drastically. Calories should be reduced by cutting down foods rich in fat like fried foods and junk food. Ice creams, cakes and other sweets should be decreased to the maximum possible extent. Consumption of foods rich in fiber should be encouraged-whole cereal and vegetables.

Physical activity should be encouraged. If vigorous exercise is difficult in the beginning daily walking should be practiced. TV viewing and indoor games should be reduced. It is a good idea to send the child to some health club or gym so that he gets motivated to lose weight. Children are strongly influenced by peers.

Psychological counseling may be required if the child is depressed or is suffering from low self esteem. The advantages of losing extra weight should be frequently emphasized.

Use of drugs for decreasing appetite are better avoided in children. Surgical methods for removing excess fat are also not generally recommended in children.

Many steps can be taken to prevent childhood obesity. It is essential to have regular family meals. Diet should contain adequate amount of fiber. Regulating the duration of TV viewing and playing video games helps in preventing obesity.

Sometimes psychological problems can lead to obesity. A depressed adolescent may go on eating excessively and become obese. Hence sufficient attention should be given to the psychological needs of children and adolescents. It is easier to prevent obesity than to treat it.

SBI!

Childhood obesity -prevention is better than cure