Health Risks of Obesity in Children

Obesity rates are rising exponentially in the United States, and unfortunately the health risks of obesity do not spare children. According to the Nemours Foundation, nearly one in three children are overweight or obese. Health professionals are particularly concerned about this trend because obese children are showing signs of health problems, like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, that were previously seen only in adults.

Definition

• A child is considered obese when he carries too much excess body fat. Obesity in children is clinically defined as having a body-mass index (BMI) in the 95th percentile or above for that child's gender and age, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Obesity may be caused by a number of factors, including a genetic disorder, but the most common cause of childhood obesity is eating too much and not exercising enough. Unfortunately, obese children have higher risks for a host of medical problems.

High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

• High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two of the leading causes of heart disease, and normally are only a health concern for adults. Obese children, however, are at greater risk for both of these conditions and may have full-blown heart disease by the time they reach adulthood. A startling study performed by the American Heart Association found that obese children had levels of artery plaque that were similar to that seen in a 45-year-old adult. The average cholesterol level of the children in the study was 223.4 mg/dL--nearly 50 points higher than the acceptable level for adults. Another study conducted in Germany found that the arteries of obese children were stiffer and narrower than those in children of a normal weight.

Diabetes

• Obese children also have a much greater risk of developing adult-onset diabetes. A study conducted by the University of Michigan Health System found that obese children are two times more likely to have diabetes than their peers of normal weight. Another study at Yale University discovered that one out of every four obese children showed early signs of diabetes, including high blood glucose levels. This is particularly dangerous because diabetes can eventually lead to blindness and kidney disease.

Sleep Apnea

• Obese children also have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea, a dangerous condition that causes breathing to stop briefly while sleeping. This prevents a restful sleep and may lead to behavioral and learning problems. In addition, it can contribute to chronic sleep deprivation, which may prompt chemical changes in the blood vessels, according to the American Heart Association. Sleep apnea is another condition that is typically seen only in adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that nearly 35 percent of obese children have sleep apnea.

Depression

• Childhood obesity is also linked to depression. This may be related to low self-esteem and negative treatment by other children. A study conducted at Necker-Enfants Hospital in France compared obese children to non-obese diabetic children and found that the obese children had poorer social skills and a higher rate of depression and other psychiatric disorders. Dr. Jeffery Schwimmer tested groups of obese and normal-weight children and found that obese children were five times more likely to report dissatisfaction with their lives.

The Good News

• It is clear that obesity in children is a serious problem. The good news, however, is that these health risks are mostly reversible if a child loses weight. If your child is obese, talk to your doctor about developing an eating and exercise plan. The American Heart Association recommends that all children get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. Obese children can also benefit from a healthy diet emphasizing fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein and whole grains.