Since 1975, the rate of childhood obesity has grown about eight times higher, according to a report included in the National Library of Medicine. It’s not just an increase in lingering baby fat, it’s a health epidemic with long-term consequences.
Weight gain early in life can set patterns and repercussions that last a lifetime. Nearly 15 million children in the United States have some level of obesity, and many of them face an increased risk of developing serious metabolic conditions and diseases as they get older.
Eating habits and activity patterns aren’t the only causes of childhood obesity. It’s a complex condition that may involve genetics, hormones, stress, and other factors. Getting to the bottom of the problem may not be easy for parents.
Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD knows the importance of a healthy body weight throughout a child’s life. Dr. Tandon and her team can help you and your child establish goals that lead to a healthier future.
When you consider the long-term effects of childhood obesity, you’ll know that now is the time to act to prevent problems like those we’ve outlined in today’s blog.
Body mass index (BMI) is a simple way to estimate obesity. A ratio of weight and height, BMI isn’t always accurate at identifying the line between normal and overweight, especially in children.
However, obesity isn’t close to this borderline, so children with high BMI numbers have demands placed on their bodies that trigger these later health issues. An obese child may face increased risk of:
Obesity is a significant risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Started by a process called insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes leads to harmful levels of sugar in the blood. This in turn can damage blood vessels and nerve tissues and leads to a wide range of health consequences including blindness, skin ulcers, and amputation.
There’s a connection between body mass and asthma, and obese children are more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, which further raises the risk of metabolic diseases.
High blood pressure develops in part by the expanded network of vessels needed to supply fat cells with blood. Unhealthy eating patterns in both quantity and quality can boost cholesterol, which promotes the buildup of arterial plaque.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are leading risk factors for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. The longer a person has these contributing factors, the sooner in their lives that heart disease may be an issue.
Contact Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD in Fountain Valley, California, to explore the reasons behind your child’s obesity. Together, we can develop an effective plan to bring their body weight down. Call or click to request a consultation today.
