Childhood obesity is a medical condition that can affect both children and teenagers. Each individual person has a body shape that is right for them; however, in many cases excessive body fat can be stored. If a child or adult stores too much of this fat then this is when they can be classed as overweight or obese. The most common sign of childhood obesity is a weight which is well above the average for a child’s height and age.
Most overweight and obesity problems within children are caused by children eating too much and not exercising enough. Weight gain occurs when energy which is ingested through food and drink is more than the energy burned off through physical activity. However, there are some uncommon genetic diseases which can cause children to become overweight or obese on their own. Children who are at risk of becoming overweight or obese include children who;
- Consume food and drinks that are high in sugar and fat on a regular basis
- Are not taking part in physical activity every day
- Carry out a lot of activities which do not burn any calories such as watching TV
- Live in an environment where healthy eating and physical activity are not encouraged
- Eat to help deal with level of stress or problems
- Come from a family with overweight members where genetics factors may be a factor or if healthy eating and physical activity are not common within the family
- Come from a low-income family who do not have the resources or time to make healthy eating and active living a priority
- Have a genetic disease or hormone disorder
Childhood Obesity 