Effects of Childhood Obesity

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While many parents are concerned about the long term effects of obesity from a health and social aspect for their children, they are often unable to diagnose the problem. They worry is it just “baby fat”, will he or she just grow out of it, is this part of the normal growth cycle. While you should always seek the advice of a trained professional, here are some tips to help you.

• Do you or your spouse’s family have a history of obesity?
• Do you or your spouse’s family have a history of obesity related illnesses such as type II diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol?
• Are there consistent patterns of low activity levels and sedentary behavior?
• Is your child above the 50th percentile regarding height? Taller people have a higher predisposition to being overweight.
• Does your adolescent smoke? Many studies show smokers are more likely to suffer from obesity than non-smokers.

Diagnosing if there is a problem is key, some of the long term health effects of childhood obesity are:

• Higher blood pressure
• Higher cholesterol
• Type II diabetes
• Increased stress levels
• Mental stability brought on by feelings of social insecurity

If you have concerns that your child or adolescent is obese please consult your family physician.

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