The Childhood obesity Is a health problem that is characterized by excessive amount of body fat in children. Specifically, it is an accumulation of neutral fat in adipose tissue that exceeds 20% of body weight.
In turn, being overweight is excess body weight for a certain height of fat, muscle, bone, water or a combination of all these factors. Overweight, obesity and other weight problems are a calorie imbalance, which burns much less calories than consumed. Factors can be genetic, behavioral and environmental.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), childhood obesity is growing at an alarming rate, reaching 42 million overweight children worldwide. For example, in countries such as the United States, it has doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the last 30 years.
This worrying trend is weighing more socioeconomically every day in developed countries and emerging powers, such as Mexico or Brazil, but fortunately these insane habits can be modified.
For the WHO, a person with a Body Mass Index (BMI) equal to or greater than 25 determines overweight. If the BMI is equal to or greater than 30 it is obesity. It should be noted that, although generally serve as a good measure to identify the fat problem, it is important to consider the BMI as an indication because it may not correspond to the same level of thickness for all people.
It is one of the main problems of the XXI century, supposing a great conditioner in the health and well-being of those who suffer it. In a study developed by the DUKE-NUS Graduate Medical School of Singapore , Argued that a child with obesity from 10 years, will mean throughout his life a medical expense of about 13,000 euros more than a child with a normal weight.
It is a worrying disease because, obese and overweight children, tend to remain so in adulthood, increasing the chances of suffering cardiovascular disease or diabetes In early ages. In addition, obesity or overweight can lead to low self esteem Y depression .
These non-communicable diseases (ENT) cause 35 million deaths annually, most of them at very early ages. This amount could significantly decrease with the fact of combating childhood obesity and Feeding Habits . They would not only mean a health benefit, but a relief to the countries' socioeconomics.
Types of Childhood Obesity
According Vague (1947), obesity is associated with the distribution of excess fat, distinguishing two types:
- Central or visceral (android). Accumulation of fat in the trunk and abdomen. The body widens to create an apple effect.
- Peripheral (gynoid). The gluteal-femoral region is where fat accumulates. The body widens to create a pear effect.
- Generalized. Difficult to distinguish since it has no specific fat distribution.
Although there are discrepancies in the scientific community, central and generalized fat distribution are the most common among children and adolescents with obesity.
Causes
Obesity and overweight have as main triggers the energy imbalance between consumed and spent calories. This is mainly promoted through:
Intake of hypercaloric foods
Currently the market offers a wide variety of foods rich in Saturated fats , Sugars, trans fatty acids Or salt, in addition to sugary drinks. They are products that contribute many calories but few nutrients essential for the organism like vitamins or minerals. The ease of getting these products at any food establishment or direct advertising on minors promotes an attractive market that triggers a huge consumption.
Sedentary lifestyle
Outdoor games, excursions or other physical activities have in recent years resulted in spending extracurricular time in front of the television, computer, mobile or game consoles. This new lifestyle in children further promotes weight problems, plus a deterioration in their growth and health due to lack of exercise or sports.
Hereditary antecedents
Although it has been subject of investigation during many years, it was not until 2013 when the American scientific magazine International Journal of Obesity , Published a study in which it showed that there are up to 32 hereditary genes identified as factors of
Risk for obesity.
Although the genetic variants discovered are few, they serve to confirm that children of obese parents are more likely to suffer from weight problems.
Consequences
There are many consequences that promote obesity or overweight. They are usually classified into psychological or emotional or physical effects.
Psychological or emotional effects
A society marked by appearances and aesthetics may trigger some psychological effects on obese children such as:
- Low self-esteem (undesirable physical appearance or few athletic skills)
- Insecurity And fear of rejection
- Difficulty in relating
- Bullying By peers
- Anxiety
- Depression
Physical Effects
The effects on the body of the child suffering from obesity are the most varied, although we can highlight three in particular: insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Resistance to insulin
Insulin is a hormone that nourishes glucose (or sugar) cells from food. Thanks to this process we obtain the energy necessary for our daily life.
The problem arises when these cells do not let the insulin pass and the glucose ends up circulating in excess blood. This causes damage to the body which, by adding excess calories and low activity, triggers diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
Developed type 2 diabetes is common to suffer symptoms that alter the body of the child. Some of them are:
- Frequent urine
- Persistent thirst
- Excessive hunger
- Weightloss
- Fatigue and irritability
Metabolic syndrome
It occurs when the obese child accumulates abdominal fat, has low levels of HDL cholesterol Or"good cholesterol"(responsible for eliminating LDL or"bad"cholesterol), have the Triglycerides High suffer hypertension And be Intolerant to glucose .
These problems lead to heart problems and type 2 diabetes.
Others
Although less frequent, there have been cases in which children with obesity have developed these problems:
- Apnea . Impediment of adequate breathing during sleep. The snoring and the brief moments in which they stop breathing, cause the individual to wake up and therefore not rest properly. It causes problems in school performance or difficulty concentrating.
- Fatty liver. It is produced by the accumulation of fats or triglycerides in the liver. Diseases such as cirrhosis can develop in an organism that does not have a healthy liver that filters the blood.
- Menstrual disorders. Girls with obesity reach puberty at younger ages. This is because fat interferes with the hormones responsible for regulating menstrual cycles.
- Tibial problems. Excess weight on the tibia may prevent it from developing properly.
- Acanthosis nigricans . It is what is commonly recognized as a darkening of the skin in certain parts of the body such as the armpits, the nape of the neck, or other places where the skin has folds.
Cholesterol, diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure or damaged joints are often the complications of obese children. However, the list can be expanded as they grow, with the following pathologies being common in adulthood:
- Endocrine system . Glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome , Effects on growth and puberty and Nulliparity .
- Cardiovascular system . Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia , Increased risk of coronary heart disease In adulthood.
- Gastrointestinal system . Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Cholelithiasis .
- Respiratory system . Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome Obesity hypoventilation .
- Musculoskeletal System . Slip of the femoral head, tibia rod ( Blount's Disease ).
- Neurological system . Idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
- Skin . Forunculosis , Intertrigo .
- Cancer Breast, colon or endometrium.
- Disability
Prevention
To prevent overweight and obesity and to carry out a healthy life style , We must educate habits from childhood. Parents, schools and institutions should strive to ensure that children avoid unhealthy diets and sedentary activities that promote obesity. Some of the recommendations for educators are:
- Healthy plan of family feeding taking into account the caloric needs and the energy that is ingested. A Breakfast strong , Avoiding bakery, sugary drinks, jelly beans, pre-cooked meals or fast foods ( Fastfood ) And increasing the consumption of vegetables and fruits are some of the recommendations of pediatricians and nutritionists.
- Search for activities for the child or family to stay active. Walking, cycling, skating or practicing some kind of out-of-school sport are some of the recommendations.
- Limit the use of televisions, computers, video games or derivatives less than 2 hours a day. Eating in front of the television is a habit that must be eradicated.
- Weight control, growth, body mass index and waist circumference of the minor. Analytics or pediatrician consultations for good advice can help prevent weight problems linked to genetics.
- Sleep properly. Lack of sleep and increased caloric intake often go hand in hand. It is recommended that children do not have video game consoles or televisions in their rooms to avoid their use being prolonged at night time.
- Schools should encourage healthy eating through eating or eating and developing physical activity.
At the same time, WHO has developed a list of institutional recommendations responsible for combating this problem in children and young people:
- Development of policies that reduce the promotion of foods rich in saturated fats, fatty acids of the type trans , Free sugars or salt in environments where children gather (schools, kindergartens, parks, family care services, etc.).
- Policies, programs and interventions to raise awareness of levels of physical activity to communities and the general public in order to promote their dissemination and acceptance.
Some Interesting Facts About Childhood Obesity and Overweight
- Although most cases of childhood obesity occur in developed countries, 80% of deaths related to this problem take place in low- and middle-income countries.
- Overweight and obesity rank fifth in mortality risk worldwide.
- In Greece, 45% of boys are obese or overweight.
- In the United States, more than one-third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese in 2012.
- While in 1980, 7% of children under 11 in the United States were obese, in 2012 they exceeded 18%.
- In 2014, in countries such as Greece, Italy, New Zealand, Slovenia and the United States, 30% or more of their children (5-17 years old) were obese or overweight.
- It is estimated that by 2017, problems of obesity will cost the Mexican health service between 5.4 and 7.7 trillion dollars.
- It is believed that in the obese child population will increase to 70 million by 2025.
References
- WHO (2010). Set of recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children.
- Daniels SR, Arnett DK, Eckel RH, et al. Overweight in children and adolescents: pathophysiology, consequences, prevention, and treatment. Circulation 2005; 111, 1999-2002.
- Vague J. The différenciation sexuelle facteur determinant des formes de l'obesité. Presse Medicale 1947; 53: 339-348
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011-2012. Journal of the American Medical Association 2014; 311 (8): 806-814.
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Obesity in Children and Adolescents: Recommendation Statement. AHRQ Publication No. 10-05144-EF-2, January 2010.