Overweight Children - Prevention and Treatment
The prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents has dramatically increased. There may be vulnerable periods for weight gain during childhood and adolescence that also offer opportunities for prevention of overweight. Overweight in children and adolescents can result in a variety of adverse health outcomes, including type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and the metabolic syndrome. The best approach to this problem is prevention of abnormal weight gain. Read more
Infant Obesity and Healthy Eating Habits
Earlier, a fat child meant a healthy child, one who was likely to survive the rigors of undernourishment and infection. In the past decade however, excessive fat has become one of the primary childhood health problems. Obesity is defined as excessive accumulation of body fat. Today obesity in children and adolescents has become a serious issue especially in the United States, with over 25 % of children considered obese. Read more
Introduction to Childhood Obesity
Childhood health and nutrition are of great concern to the British Medical Association. Placing the needs of children at the centre of our thinking is vital, as this period is a crucial stage in development. Childhood obesity rates in the UK are soaring. This is extremely worrying as obesity can cause heart disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers. Read more
Understanding and Dealing with Childhood Obesity
According to statistics, more and more children in the UK are becoming overweight and it starts early – with one in ten six-year-olds already identified as obese. If the problem continues into a child’s teens, they are more likely to be obese as adults too. As well as the emotional problems and low self-esteem that affect many overweight children, there are serious health implications. Read more
Obesity - Causes of Childhood Obesity
Childhood Obesity can be defined in absolute or relative terms. In practical settings, obesity is typically evaluated in absolute terms by measuring BMI (body mass index), but also in terms of its distribution through waist circumference or waist-hip circumference ratio measurements. In addition, the presence of obesity needs to be regarded in the context of other risk factors and comorbidities (other medical conditions that could influence risk of complications). Read more
