Children are still facing contemporary health hazards; this is known as obesity. As much as being healthy is a blessing, our lives have become so hectic, and this can become a big issue for children all over the world. Carrying extra weight can make their bodies tired and cause health problems like diabetes and high cholesterol while they are still young. We need to find ways to keep our children healthy and moving. So in this article, we will explore the causes of childhood obesity, its symptoms, the current rates, and the effects it has on children’s health.

Causes Of Childhood Obesity

Here we have listed down factors that contribute to obesity in the younger ones very easily due to the many existing factors. Some of the leading factors contributing to obesity are diet, poor exercise profile, heredity, and even the environment. It is about time that we shine a light on all of these, individually.

Poor Diet

Poor diet is a major determinant of childhood obesity hence children with poor diets are obese. Children today eat more junk foods, drink more beverages, and eat less fruits and vegetables, as well as high-fiber foods. These junk foods include many fatty, sugary, and salty factors, all of which add many calories to the diet. However, portion sizes that people used to take per meal have also raised and encouraged over-eating.

Lack of Physical Activity

Screen time of children these days can be a topic of discussion which adds to unhealthy  There are numerous ways in which children spend time on screens these days, amongst them being television screens, computer screens, and even the screens of their phones and tablets. This conflicting lifestyle means that they do not get to engage in any physical activity. Overall, it is important to exercise regularly to avoid becoming obese.

Genetic Factors

Your genes can cause you to become overweight when you are young. Children whose parents are overweight are more likely to become overweight themselves. This could be because of genes that run in the family, and they affect how the body processes food and stores fat. Genes can’t totally explain why obesity is increasing so fast. Lifestyle and the environment are also important.

Environmental Influences

Some reports also highlight some of the various consequences of obesity due to the environment in which a child grows up and how this environment affects their chances of being obese. Due to limited options at home, insufficient physical facilities for children and youth to engage in, and television or other forms of media exposure to the commercials of unhealthy foods, they can binge and develop unhealthy patterns of eating and exercise.

These are just a few major causes of childhood obesity, the list goes on and it is literally damaging our lifestyle, leading to an unhealthy future and genetics. It is also crucial to look at the emerging numbers of childhood obesity.

Childhood Obesity Rates

Obesity in kids has been increasing quickly for many years. Researchers in a ScienceDirect article studied 21 different research projects done between 2003 and 2023. The studies involved 186,901 kids in India. The objective of this assignment was to improve understanding of the issue that can be defined as childhood obesity. They discovered that 8.4% of the kids were obese, while 12.4% were overweight.

Taking into account the most recent statistics, the United States of America states that one in six children is considered obese. From the National Survey of Children’s Health, headed data reveals that in the years 2021-2022, 17% of children of the age group 10 to 17 years were suffering from obesity. The data also indicate that the percentage of the population that is considered obese is not constant but has systemic differences between the various racial/ethnic categories all over the country.

Current facts indicate that a sizable portion of children and adolescents all over the globe, that is, twenty per cent, are either overweight or clinically obese. These childhood obesity rates are indeed haunting, and it is, in a true sense, alarming, which can be the possible inference that may be drawn from these observations. Understanding the signs, symptoms, and effects and then addressing them is the only way to get rid of this.

Childhood Obesity Symptoms

Recognizing the symptoms of childhood obesity is crucial for early intervention. Some common symptoms include:

• Excess Body Weight

One of the primary signs of pediatric obesity is an increase in adipose tissue mass which is defined as the percentage of fat in relation to body weight. These can be assessed through increased weight and general body appearance.

• Breathlessness

Children who are obese may experience breathlessness during physical activities. This occurs because excess weight puts extra strain on the lungs and heart.

• Joint Pain

Obesity puts a heavy burden on the body, especially on the knee joints and hips, which may lead to joint pain or more. This can, in one way or another, make a child limit himself or herself from pursuing manual tasks or sports.

• Sleep Problems

Obesity can cause sleep apnea and other sleep disorders, leading to poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue.

• Psychological Issues

Children with obesity often face psychological challenges such as low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. They may also experience bullying and social isolation.

Effects Of Childhood Obesity And How To Address Them

• The younger generation dealing with obesity is prone to severe complications such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure,  and high cholesterol that are believed to affect adults. They also have higher chances of developing cardiovascular diseases like heart disease and stroke at a tender age as their arteries majorly contain fatty buildup from childhood.
• Moreover, obesity is associated with certain respiratory diseases such as asthma and sleep apnea and skeletal diseases such as osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal pain, which can eventually affect mobility and participation in everyday activities.
• The issue of combating childhood obesity cannot be tackled by teachers alone. Still, it is a whole community affair that involves parents, school administration, community health facilities, and the children themselves. Education about healthy nutrition and an active lifestyle includes maintaining proper diets to consume energy-enhancing vitamins and relevant foods but also avoiding high-calorie products.
• This highlights the gravity of increasing physical activity in addition to the recommended at least 6 minutes of exercise for children. Reducing the time children spend watching TV and informing children and their parents about good health habits is another measure that should be taken. People living in communities can help with these causes by accessing good foods and facilities that support physical exercises and having policies that enhance proper living.

Final Thoughts

Obesity in childhood is one of the most severe and multifactorial concerns among the global population that results in severe outcomes. By exploring the causes of childhood obesity and by putting appropriate measures in place, it will be possible to put effort toward achieving optimal and healthier lives for children across the globe.