What are the risks of obesity in children?

This is an automatically translated article.

This article is expertly consulted by Master, Doctor Ngo Thi Oanh - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.
A nutritious diet and less physical activity at the same time make childhood obesity more and more common in our country as well as in many countries around the world. Childhood obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular, skeletal and endocrine diseases.

1. Causes of obesity in children

Common causes of childhood obesity include:
Genetic factors Lack of physical activity Unhealthy eating habits In addition, some children become obese for the above reasons in combination. Very rarely, it is caused by a medical condition such as an endocrine problem. To find out if a child is obese due to a medical condition, the doctor often asks the child to perform a number of blood tests.
Genetic factors play a definite role in childhood obesity. However, this may be related to the family's diet and activities. Therefore, besides genetics, the total amount of food and energy consumed also plays a role.
Nowadays, along with modern lifestyle, children spend a lot of time with sedentary play activities such as watching TV, playing video games. This further increases the risk of childhood obesity.

2. What diseases are obese children at risk of?

Children who are obese are at increased risk for several conditions, including:
High cholesterol High blood pressure Cardiovascular disease Diabetes Bone problems Skin conditions such as heat rash, fungal infections and acne Medical conditions Cardiovascular and endocrine problems occur, especially when children are so young. In addition, bone disease also reduces the child's ability to develop physically. Therefore, obesity is dangerous if not treated in time.

3. How to know if a child is obese?

The best way to determine if a child is obese is to see a doctor. When the child arrives at the hospital, the child will measure the weight, height, calculate the body mass index (BMI), compare the value with the standard value according to the growth model to determine the child's weight level.

4. How to lose weight for children with obesity?

The best solution for children with obesity is emotional support. If the family feels comfortable and does not discriminate against the child's weight, the child will also have less self-esteem. In all conditions, when children want to share stories about weight, the family should listen and give them positive advice.
In addition, families should focus on regulating physical activity and eating habits. In this way, family members both build healthy habits together, while helping your baby feel not alone in the battle with weight.

5. How to involve the family in healthy habits?

Some of the measures described below can help family members make healthy lifestyle changes together:
Show your child you are changing your habits: If your child sees you being physically active quality and have fun, they will receive that positive energy and follow you. Plan family-friendly activities like exercise, walking, biking, or swimming. Pay attention to children's emotions: Obese children are often uncomfortable when participating in physical activities. Therefore, in order to successfully lose weight, you need to find physical activities that your child loves, and is not afraid or too difficult to practice. Limit time for inactive activities such as watching TV or playing video games. For children with obesity, the aim of being physically active and following a healthy diet often doesn't work. Instead, you should plan to gradually change your eating and exercise habits on a family scale. This not only helps children lose weight effectively, but also helps improve the health of the family.
Obesity in children causes unwanted consequences, increasing the risk of many diseases that are not good for health. Therefore, parents need to know the signs as well as have a way to control the appropriate weight for their children.
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Reference source: webmd.com