Childhood Obesity
When it comes to children instead of referring to them as being obese, the term that is being used is overweight because it less stigmatizing. Some of the first problems that happen with overweight, or obese, children are usually psychological or emotional because of how other children perceive them. When a child is overweight many of them have to deal with the name calling from other children.
They, like adults, can also have life-threatening conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, sleep problems, and other disorders. One disorder that is associated with being overweight is anorexia and bulimia. Even if the child loses weight they still see themselves as fat or overweight. Overweight children will often grow into overweight adults and has been found to increase mortality rates during their adult lives.
In addition to the teasing and name calling from their peers, some of these children are discriminated against or harassed by their own family. They can also suffer from depression and low self-esteem. One study found that obese children have carotid arteries that have prematurely aged as much as thirty years. They may also have abnormal levels of cholesterol.
As with most cases of obesity the causes are a combination of factors such as dietary, physical inactivity, genetics, and home environment. Home environment refers to the type of family meals the children eat and it has been found that four in five parents let the children make their own food choices. There are several reasons that can affect a child’s dietary habits such as calorie rich foods and drinks are more available to children today. The fast food industry plays a big part of childhood obesity, but many of these fast food restaurants today are offering more healthy choices that in years past. Children are also enticed by the different toys that fast food restaurants offer in their meals.
One drink that not many people think about causing children to gain weight is whole milk consumption after the age of two, which should then be two percent milk. Some parents, in order to get their children to drink milk, add flavorings such as chocolate or strawberry which adds calories.
With invention of the various game systems and the internet many children want to stay inside and play video games instead of being outside riding bicycles, or playing sports. Television is also another reason that children prefer to stay indoors. In the United States, being inactive is linked to more children being obese at younger ages.
I know as a child I was a bit on the bigger side. I was teased all the time. One child called me piggy to my face and then name stuck with her. It was so hard to go to school and I had little confidence because of this person. I will never forget how that made me feel.