Tvisha VarmaContributing Author, Rightantra Ameesha TripathiEditor In-Chief, Rightantra
Did you know that since 2016, over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 were reported to be overweight or obese? Obesity in children is a complicated medical problem. Let’s learn more!
A child or an adolescent is said to suffer from obesity when they are significantly overweight for their age and height. Usually, a child is categorized as obese when their Body Mass Index (BMI), which is calculated by:
Weight (kgs) ➗ [Height (mts)]2
is at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. However, as with all measures of health, it is extremely important to note that BMI is not a perfect test, especially for children. In itself, BMI is not an indication of ‘health’. That being said, BMI is definitely helpful in identifying obesity in children and preventing further diseases linked to it. Obesity in children has the same reasons as it does in adults, including behaviour and genetics. Obesity is often affected by a person's social environment, which can impair their ability to make healthier choices. It's especially concerning because excess fat in the body may contribute to several other health issues, particularly diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Additionally, it can lead to low self-esteem and depression due to both medical and external (bullying, taunting, pressure to lose weight, etc.) factors. Often, psychological factors are not given due consideration during the discussions about child obesity. As a matter of fact, mental health problems could be both—a cause and consequence of obesity in children. Causes: Several factors, together or individually, may lead to obesity in children. Some of them are:
Psychological Impact: While growing up, children slowly become aware of the societal standards of acceptance with regards to certain body types and shapes, and this can have a long-lasting impact on their mental health. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and the physical appearance of bodies has been the bone of contention in society since time immemorial. For children, especially teenagers, to learn that their body may not fit the acceptable ‘norm’ or be ‘desirable’, could cause a devastating impact. There is a stigma attached to being or even just looking ‘overweight’ and could lead to social as well as personal issues. Tweens are hyper-aware of their bodies and the differences in comparison to others, which may make them self-conscious. The idealisation of thinner (not healthier) bodies in society is a dangerous concept to enforce. This can lead to bullying by their peers, as well as adults in some cases. A constant linkage of self-worth to weight is bound to result in low self-esteem. A study showed that teenagers with obesity tended to be unhappy, not just with their appearance, but various other aspects as well. Perhaps not surprisingly, teens with weight issues tend to face higher levels of depression and anxiety. Obesity has also been seen to linked with behavioural issues such as aggression, defiance as well as lower performance in academics and social settings. Another extremely dangerous impact of obesity is the higher risk of eating disorders. Efforts to reduce weight by following unhealthy mechanisms such as excessive exercising or restricting eating can lead to eating disorders such as binge eating, anorexia nervosa or bulimia. Complications: Obesity at a young often causes complications in a child's physical, social and emotional well-being.
At the outset, it is a common mistake to declare children overweight, fat or obese based on just appearance. Obesity is a medical condition, and must be treated as such, with consultation from medical professionals and nutritionists. Additionally, it is often believed that in order for one to lose weight they should reduce their diet, consume fewer calories, or not eat at all. However, the key to a healthy weight is maintaining a well-balanced diet and lifestyle. Your diet should encompass all nutrients and a variety of food, especially for children who are still growing and require these foods to make their body stronger. Several nutritionists and fitness trainers believe that you must eat more to lose weight. Protein and Carbohydrate intake must be 40-40 with the remaining constituting of good fats and plenty of fibre. Moreover, don’t teach your child to shy away from fats, instead, educate them on good fats and bad fats and the ratio in which they should both be eaten. Habits, (such as eating in moderation) should be instilled at a young age as they will then continue through to adulthood. Improving the whole family's food and exercise habits is one of the most effective ways to eliminate these risks. Obesity can be addressed and avoided at a young age, which improves your child's health now and in the future.
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