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Childhood
Obesity Statistics
It's a well know fact
that obesity is on the incline in adults, however it is very worrying
to see that this trend can also be seen amongst children and
adolescents. Research suggests that the rate of obesity has doubled in
children between the ages of 2 and 5, and in adolescents between the
ages of 12 and 19, since the 1970's. Even more worryingly is the fact
that the obesity rate has tripled for children between the ages of 6
and 11. Recent studies have discovered that 16% of children are
overweight whilst around 1/3 are at risk of becoming overweight.
There is no difference between boys and girls, the rates of obesity are
the same for both of them. Since the 1960's there has been an increase
in the rates of obesity in both sexes.
Certain ethnic groups are more prone to obesity than others for example
boys who are of Mexican American ethnicity are more likely to be obese,
around 4 in 10 of them suffer from this problem. In the case of girls,
the ethnic groups that are more prone to obesity are those of African
ethnicity.
A report was released in 2001 by the Surgeon General in America. This
report outlined the crisis of obesity that the USA was facing. The
purpose of this report was to find a way to to resolve this health
problem as it had reached epidemic proportions.
A year later the Institute of Medicine were commissioned to create a
prevention plan, to gradually bring the rising numbers of obese and
overweight children in America to a halt.
In order to do this the Institute of Medicine set out to study the
behavioral, cultural and environmental factors that contribute to
childhood obesity and at the same time try to discover ways to prevent
childhood obesity on a large scale.
In the year 2000 a study estimated that approximately 33% of children
born in America are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This
condition has very strong links with obesity.
If an obese child carries his obesity into adulthood he or she will be
at risk of developing several dangerous diseases such as, certain types
of cancer, osteoporosis, hypertension and diabetes. A child that
suffers from obesity could develop one of the following conditions
liver disease, gall bladder disease, and sleep apnea, as well as the
possibility of having high cholesterol levels.
Obese children are also likely to suffer from depression as a result of
their condition.
The financial costs of childhood obesity are phenomenal, since
the 1970's these costs have increased dramatically, they are now three
times as much as they previously were. $100 billion dollars is spent
every year in America alone on the health care of the obese and
overweight.
Most health experts agree that the key to fighting obesity is a healthy
diet and physical activity, however it is not recommended that
children are put on a diet as it may hinder their physical development.
If your child is obese or overweight. it is strongly recommended that
you take them to a doctor or health specialist.
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