Obesity in Children National Health Epidemic Ahmed Abo-Baker, MD Future Pediatrics, LLC 2420 Jenks Ave, Suite 3 Panama City, FL futurepediatrics.com
What is Childhood Obesity? Excess percentage of body weight due to fat. Body Mass Index (BMI) - calculated from a child’s weight and height. Serious medical condition! Childhood obesity leads to health problems once limited to adults (diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol).
National Health Epidemic 1 in 3 children/teens in U.S. are overweight/obese. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate 1 in 3 young people born in the year 2000 will develop Type 2 Diabetes. Current generation of kids might be first in U.S. history to live shorter lives than their parents.
Current Trends In last two decades, obese children doubled and obese adolescents tripled. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) state that 31.9% of children/adolescents are overweight and 16.3% are obese.
What Factors Contribute to Obesity? DIET High-calorie foods/beverages are high in sugar. Fast foods Baked goods Vending machine snacks Soft drinks Candy & desserts
Obesity Factors cont. INACTIVITY Sedentary kids gain weight because they don’t burn calories through physical activity. Watching television Surfing on the Internet Playing video games Cell phone usage
Obesity Factors cont. GENETICS Children in overweight families are predisposed for excess weight, especially if high-calorie foods are available and physical activity isn’t encouraged. PSYCHOLOGICAL Some children overeat to cope with problems or deal with emotions like stress.
Obesity Factors cont. FAMILY ENVIRONMENT Children don’t shop for the family groceries. Parents responsible for providing healthy foods - leave unhealthy foods at the store. Kids are attracted to sweet, salty and fatty foods, but parents control access to these foods.
Obesity Factors cont. SOCIOECONOMIC Children from low-income backgrounds at greater risk for obesity. Poverty and obesity can go hand in hand. Parents in these circumstances may lack time/resources to make healthy eating/exercise a priority.