Childhood obesity

Childhood obesity has become a serious health problem that already affects more than 43 million children around the world, according to WHO data. Obese children are above the normal weight for their age and height.

What causes childhood obesity?

Nutrition that is not very nutritious and unbalanced
There are still people who believe that a fat boy is a well-fed child. However, it is a mistaken myth, obesity is not synonymous with health, quite the opposite. In fact, different studies show that children today eat more calories but of worse quality than the children of years ago. The problem is that in the modern diet the "junk" food predominates, which only provides empty calories, without nutrients.

Lack of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle
In the past children used to walk to school and in their leisure time playing outside. Currently, most children spend too much time in front of the television, with video games or involved in passive activities. In fact, most small children spend between 2 and 5 hours a day on technology. These habits make children stay more hours seated and lead a more sedentary life. In addition, the lack of physical activity also increases the level of stress and anxiety, reduces the quality of sleep and hinders your muscular development.

Genetic and hereditary predisposition
The habits and inadequate life habits of the parents greatly condition the appearance of obesity in their children. In fact, it is known that the obesity of the parents conditions the body weight of the children. Obviously, genetic factors are also at the root of this problem because it is estimated that between 40% and 90% of obesity cases have a hereditary component. This has been confirmed by research published in The American Journal, Human Genetics, which has found one of the genes involved in the development of obesity. However, it is not the only gene that has been linked to childhood obesity because previous studies have found other genes that affect metabolism and increase the risk that a child inherits the tendency to obesity of their parents.

Is obesity dangerous in children?

Obesity is a silent disease that can have enormous repercussions for health, especially in the long term.

. Metabolic effects Childhood obesity usually affects the metabolic balance of children, especially when excess fat accumulates around the abdominal area. In fact, it is known that small obese people have a higher risk of having high cholesterol and triglycerides. They also tend to develop glucose intolerance and are more likely to develop diabetes.

. Vascular problems Studies have shown that the risk of hypertension, heart problems and cerebrovascular diseases in adulthood is higher in people who were obese during childhood. Likewise, childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk of premature death and disability in adulthood.

. Emotional disorders Children who are obese often have low self-esteem, a problem that gets worse as they head towards adolescence. In fact, nine out of ten obese children develop a negative perception of their body image, feeling ashamed of their appearance. In the same way, their self-perception affects the relationships they establish with others because they sometimes feel rejected and excluded from the group of friends. As a culmination, it has been appreciated that the risk of developing depression increases by 55% in obese children.