Today, 18 percent of children and teens in the United States are obese. Public health officials have classified childhood obesity as an epidemic.
How does being overweight affect a child’s health?
Overweight children are at a much greater risk for health problems now and in the future than children who are within a healthy weight range. Serious weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, asthma, accelerated growth, hip or knee pain, depression, low self-esteem, sleep apnea, and liver and gallbladder problems are seen more frequently by pediatricians in overweight children.
The longer a child remains overweight, the greater the risk for serious long-term health problems. Have your pediatrician measure your child’s body mass index to determine whether your child is underweight, at a healthy weight, at risk of being overweight, or is already overweight or obese. Read More
