The numbers of overweight and obese kids in the United States is growing at an alarming rate. It is estimated that at present, about a third of American children now belong to the group considered overweight or obese. This is because more and more youngsters are spending less time doing physical activities and more time enjoying a sedentary lifestyle in front of the television, PC and video games. Children are also eating more foods that are rich in fats, sugar, salt and other junks that are nothing but empty calories.

What happens to children who are obese?

Childhood obesity takes its toll on the health of a child. Kids run the risk of developing health conditions like respiratory disorders, sleeping disorders, diabetes mellitus type 2, damage to the liver and gall bladder and various cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and heart failure. Because of the excessive fat in their bodies, obese children may also develop bone and joint problems. And because obese kids may become unhappy with their appearance, they are also more likely to develop depression and even dangerous eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa.

Causes of childhood obesity

While childhood obesity can be caused by a number of factors including genetics, endocrine and development disorders and even drugs, more and more people nowadays run the risk of becoming obese because of their lifestyle choices.

These days, people want their food prepared quickly. As a result, there is a proliferation of food items laden with fats, sugars, salt and a host of preservatives and artificial ingredients. Parents are not only choosing unhealthy foods for their kids, food manufacturers and fast food chains are also coming up with portion sizes that are out-of-this-world large!

Another culprit is the increasingly sedentary lifestyle that many children choose these days. Twenty years ago, children enjoyed more physical activities like biking, playing ball games, Frisbee catching and playing double Dutch jump rope games. After the advent of computer game consoles, Internet gaming and digital satellite television, kids are now more cooped up inside their rooms. Take note that to be physically fit, children should do at least an hour of vigorous physical activities every day of the week.

Next time, you’ll be learning about the ways you can help prevent your child from becoming obese.

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