Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity

Real life influences of childhood obesity.
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Childhood obesity is a disease that takes place in children or adolescents. According to Mayo Clinic, childhood obesity is "when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height." Childhood obesity is a huge issue in today's society. This is because there are many diseases that were typically found in adults that are now being found in children.

Symptoms of Childhood Obesity:

Children come in all shapes and sizes. Some are big, some are small, but all children are growing. Because of this, childhood obesity can be one of the hardest diseases to diagnose. A sign of childhood obesity can be severe weight gain. Since children are growing, consult a doctor immediately. A doctor can collect health data on the child as well as the family. With this information a doctor can observe if a child would classify as obese. 

Causes of Childhood Obesity:

Causes of Childhood Obesity.
www.childobesity180.org

There is no direct cause of childhood obesity. There are only correlations. A major correlation found is between some lifestyle issues and obesity. These lifestyle issues include physical activity as well as diet. A lack of physical activity and a poor diet can lead to obesity. Although this is very uncommon, Another cause of obesity can be genetic factors of diseases.

Complications that result from Childhood Obesity:

• Type II Diabetes: Chronic condition that causes issues with the way that the body uses glucose. A sedentary lifestyle and obesity both lead to an increased risk of Type II Diabetes.
• High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure: With a poor diet, a child can develop high cholesterol and high blood pressure. This develops plaque in the child's arteries, which leads to heart attack and stroke later in life. 
• Sleep Disorders: Childhood obesity can cause obstructive sleep apnea. This is a serious disorder in which a child can continually stop and start breathing during their sleep.
• Early Puberty or Menstruation: Obesity can cause hormone imbalances. This imbalance can cause a child to go through puberty much earlier than expected. 
• Depression and Low Self Esteem: Obesity can cause a sense of low self esteem. This low self esteem can lead to hopelessness and ultimately depression. A child that is depressed may lose interest in activities they had previously enjoyed. They may also sleep and cry much more than usual.

This shows some issues with childhood obesity as well as ways to combat childhood obesity.
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References
M. (n.d.). Childhood obesity. Retrieved March 22, 2016, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-obesity/basics/complications/con-20027428