Epidemic Of Child Obesity

Epidemic Of Child Obesity

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Up to 13% of 6 11 year olds and 14 % of adolescents were being classed as obese in 1999. Things have since gone from bad to worse in an obesity epidemic, which is triple, the rate of 1963.

In both England and the United States obesity now ranks the number one problem for numerous parents, overshadowing the concerns regarding smoking and drug abuse.

In the United States alone, obesity is estimated to cost the wider community more than $100 billion per annum. Obesity is known to be creating high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated blood cholesterol levels and depression, trouble sleeping, besides psychological effects, in children. There are in fact, thirty known medical conditions that obesity puts individuals under increased risk.

Fatty liver disease, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, can put a stop to the liver functioning properly. The disease which is said to affect one third of 11 year olds, is a build-up of fat within the liver and a silent killer.

The dramatic rise in obesity in children is causing fatty liver disease to be on the increase. The problem is there are no signs to the disease, until it becomes acute.

Too little physical activity, with too many video games and too much television, united with sugar and fat loaded snacks are said to be the foremost cause of obesity, though stress, low self-esteem and depression can also play a part.

Richard Carmona, former Surgeon General said "Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents."

Obesity is one of the most difficult conditions to treat, so parents of overweight children are being asked to:

Encourage strong social support of dietary intervention from others involved in food preparation
Advocate regular physical activity involve the whole family
Be involved in a healthy eating program
Discover and highlight the childs strengths and positive qualities.

Studies reveal that once obesity is a problem in childhood, it frequently becomes a life-long problem.


About the Author:
Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO's and founders of YouMe Support Foundation, providing high school education grants for children who are without hope. You can help in this really great project by taking a few minutes to check out the Sponsor a Student program at (http://youmesupport.org). It will change the life of some really needy kids in the South Pacific.
Feel free to contact Wendy on admin@youmesupport.org



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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