Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal or healthy weight for his or her age and height. Medically, obesity is defined as having an excess amount of body fat, which is typically measured by body mass index (BMI), a calculation that uses weight and height. In children, a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex is typically considered obese. This condition can have a significant impact on both the physical and psychological health of a child, leading to potential complications such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint pain, and sleep apnea.

From a medical perspective, the primary causes of childhood obesity are often a combination of eating too many calories, lack of physical activity, genetic factors, and sometimes hormonal imbalances. Modern lifestyle factors, such as energy-dense diets and sedentary behaviors, contribute heavily to the prevalence of obesity. Treatment for childhood obesity is comprehensive, focusing on diet modifications, physical activity encouragement, behavior changes, and family education to ensure sustainable healthful habits. Long-term management is important because children who are obese are more likely to become obese adults, and intervention at a young age is vital to prevent chronic health issues associated with obesity.