Obese Children

In the United States, the fastest growing segment of the obese population is our youth. Obesity in children has increased by over 30 percent in the United States over the last 10 years, with a staggering 19 percent of children from 6 to 19 years old now categorized as obese.

Child Obesity- Health Problems

Obese children face serious health risks. They are at a dramatically higher risk for type 2 diabetes than their peers, and recent studies have shown that inactivity prevents obese children from proper neurological development. They are also more likely to remain obese for the rest of their life, leading to more serious obesity-related health problems.

Causes of Child Obesity

Obese children are often victims of aggressive advertising for junk food and soda products. Poor family nutrition and exercise habits can also be blamed for the recent influx of childhood obesity. Because fat cells are so easy to create but so difficult to lose, obese children typically grow up to be obese men and women.

Children and Bariatric Surgery

For obese children, weight loss surgery is not an option. It is therefore essential that sensible diet and exercise routines are established as early as possible, and that a new, healthier lifestyle is embraced by the entire family.