The main consequences of childhood obesity will vary from child to child, however, these can be grouped into three areas; physical, mental and economic. The known physical side effects of obesity are multiple and broad the main areas are;
- Increase in developing type 2 diabetes due to excessive insulin secretion and organ resistance to insulin
- Menstrual irregularity and infertility
- Heart attack and stroke due to hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia and hypertension
- Orthopaedic issues such as hip instability
- Metabolic issues such as liver disease or gallstones
Equally as important as these physical side effects of obesity are the psychological consequences which can include;
- Lowering of self-esteem often reinforced by bullying at school as well as recurring barriers of the ‘normal/ideal’ physique displayed by the media and entertainment industries
- Depression, leading to possible further eating or an exaggerated overcorrection leading to eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa.
The economic costs of childhood obesity are not often considered, however they are very important;
- The direct costs of medical office visits, diagnostic studies, and therapeutic services
- Indirect costs are both long- and short-term and include decrease in productivity, absenteeism, and premature death.
Childhood Obesity 