Pediatric obesity can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes. Obesity also may have negative effects on your child's confidence, activities and quality of life.
What is pediatric obesity?
If your child is diagnosed with obesity, it means that they have an unhealthy amount of body fat. This means that your child weighs too much for what is considered healthy for their height. It is normal for kids to have growth spurts. Some children can be considered overweight for their age because they are tall. This doesn’t mean they are obese. That is why it is important to ask your doctor about whether your child’s weight is healthy for their height.
What causes pediatric obesity?
There are many reasons that your child may become obese. Here are a few examples:
- Not enough physical activity
- Too many calories from food and drinks
- Changes in the hormones that help digestion
- Unhealthy eating habits
What are the risk factors?
- Unhealthy eating habits at home
- Family history of obesity
- Hormone changes
- Eating a lot of high calorie foods
- Eating to cope with stress or boredom
- Not getting enough exercise or daily movement
Is Your Child's Weight Unhealthy?
If you think that your child's weight is unhealthy talk to your family doctor. Some symptoms that you might notice are the following:
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A change in appearance; like new stretch marks or more fatty tissue
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Shortness of breath when your child is being active
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Sleep apnea: when your child momentarily stops breathing while they are asleep
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Early puberty or irregular menstrual cycles in girls and late puberty in boys
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Flat feet
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Knock-knees: knees that turn inward
Determining Obesity in Children
Your child’s doctor will calculate BMI, body mass index, to determine whether your child is at a healthy weight for his or her height. Your provider will us growth charts to decide whether height and weight are healthy.
Meeting with a Nutritionist Can Help
The treatments for obesity may be different for every child. Your child may be treated by his or her doctor or referred to a specialist, such as a nutritionist or therapist. Here are some of the common treatments you may see:
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New diet strategies: based on tips given to you by your child’s doctor or nutritionist, you may need to start following a new diet plan
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More physical activity: Your child may need to start spending more time doing physical activity
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Counseling: Your child may need to see a therapist or psychologist if unhealthy eating habits are the result of an unhealthy emotional state
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Medication:Treatment for hormonal changes or a genetic condition may vary.
Health Problems Related to Childhood Obesity
If your child’s obesity isn’t treated, something more serious could result. You might see any of these outcomes for your child:
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Type 2 diabetes
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High cholesterol
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High blood pressure
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Asthma or breathing problems
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Trouble sleeping
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Metabolic syndrome
