Posts tagged Cause Of Obesity

Obesity has always been a matter of public concern because of the adverse effects it has on the body. An alarming new addition to this issue is the problem of obesity in children which is on the rise. Childhood obesity has a root in many contributing factors, some of which widely vary and seem to have no connection but are usually related in one way or another.

Lifestyle choices inclusive of dietary and home environment are two of the biggest factors that evidence has linked to childhood obesity. One reason behind this is poor eating habits based on tastes, preferences and costs. The fact is that sugary, processed foods filled with additives are readily available to children almost everywhere. They are rich in calories, and quite unhealthy for the body overall.

Genetic tendency towards weight gain is another major cause of obesity in children, which for the most part cannot be helped. A sedentary lifestyle is one other reason behind obesity increasing. Physical activity, especially in small growing children is very important but some studies suggest that a lot of children don’t get the necessary exercise that they require. Children of a younger age should be indulging in some sort of physical activity for at least 25-30 minutes every day, while older children like teenagers need slightly more than that. While this can combat obesity successfully if done regularly and rigorously, it should be noted that obesity itself hinders exercise. This is because overweight children usually have no tendency towards physical activity, but if you are a parent, you should know that it is essential that you push your child to do at least a little exercise daily.

Childhood obesity statistics can be quite an eye-opener. Here is one shocking fact; in 1999-2000 children ranging in ages between 6-19 were found to obese at a percentage of 16, while another 15% were in danger of getting obese in the near future. In the last thirty years, obesity in children has actually tripled. In point of fact, for an obese child, there’s a 70% chance that this condition will continue well into adulthood. Unfortunately, if your parents are overweight too, then the percentage rises to 78%.

The consequences of being obese are many. Lethargy is usual in overweight children and because of that, they shy away from physical activities anytime they can, including in school. This alienates them from their classmates which can become a social problem. In addition to this, they often have to suffer taunts of other children for being fat and get used to hurtful nicknames.

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