Childhood obesity is a medical condition that affects children which is mainly due to the excessive buildup of fat. It is therefore important for children to be educated and encouraged about making healthy lifestyle choices and incorporating physical activities into the daily routines.

1. EDINAM LONG
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - GREEN BAY
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY
CHILDHOOD OBESITY

2. WHAT IS CHILDHOOD OBESITY
 Childhood obesity is the buildup of excessive fat
 Every human being has a body shape that is just right for
them, but sometimes the body can store excessive body fat
which causes changes to the body.
 It is very important that height and weight change evenly
together as children develop.

3. WHAT IS CHILDHOOD OBESITY
 If a child stores too much fat they can be classified as overweight
or obese.
 A sign of childhood obesity is a weight well above the normal for a
child’s height and age.
 These children are more likely to become obese adults and more
likely to experience health issues due to chronic diseases.

4. WHAT ARETHE CAUSES OF OBESITY IN
CHILDREN?
 Children can often become overweight if their parents are
overweight, which can be genetic of the family's pattern of
eating and exercise.
 An unhealthy diet is one of the main causes of obesity -
especially eating fatty foods or eating too much food.
 Children not exercising can lead to obesity - eg. sitting
around a lot, spending hours on a computer playing video
games and watching television for more than an hour a day.
 Not getting enough sleep can affect the body's hormones
causing obesity.

5. CHILDREN AT RISK OF BECOMING
OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE INCLUDE
 Children who consume food and drinks that are high in sugar
and fat on a regular basis such as fast food, candy, baked goods,
pop and other sugar-sweetened beverages
Children who are not physically active
 Children who watch a lot of television and play a lot of video
games, usually children who are not involved in activities that
burn calories
 live in an environment where healthy eating and physical
activity are not encouraged
 Children who eat to help deal with stress or social problems

6. PROBLEMS CAUSED BY OBESITY
 Unhealthy weight during childhood may result in serious medical problems such as:
 High blood pressure and high cholesterol; risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD)
 Increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes
 Breathing problems such as asthma and sleep apnea
 Joint problems and musculoskeletal discomfort
 Fatty liver disease, gallstones, and gastro-esophageal reflux (eg. Heartburn)

7. PROBLEMS CAUSED BY OBESITY
 Overweight or obesity in childhood may result in serious psychological difficulties such as:
 The child likely to be teased and bullied
 The child likely to bullied by others
 The child having poor self-esteem and may feel socially isolated
 Risk for depression
 The child having poorer social skills
 The child experiencing a high stress and anxiety

8. HOWTO AVOID OBESITY
 Eat more fruit and vegetables such as legumes, whole grains and nuts;
 Limit fats by shifting fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats;
 Limit the intake of sugars;
 Stay physically active;
 Get a good nights sleep

9. REFERENCES
What is obesity? Retrieved from:
www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&np=152&id
What is childhood obesity? Retrieved from:
www.childhoodobesityfoundation.ca/what-is-childhood-obesity/