Overweight now affects 1 in 9 children (0-18 years) in the India. About 1.25 crore children aged between 5 and 19 in India were overweight in 2022, according to a global analysis published in The Lancet journal Of the 1.25 crore, 73 lacs were boys and 52 lacs girls. Childhood obesity is becoming a serious problem in the India, putting the children and adolescents at risk for poor health.
The term overweight refers to excess body weight for a particular height, whereas the term obesity is used to define excess body fat. Childhood obesity can lead to adulthood health problems. Developing countries like India have a unique problem of ‘Double Burden’ wherein at one end of the spectrum we have obesity in children and adolescents while at the other end we have malnutrition and underweight. Overweight and obesity is on the rise among school children in urban India.
How to identify overweight or obesity in Children?
Body mass index (BMI) is a measure used to determine childhood overweight and obesity. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. A high BMI can be an indicator of high body fatness. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI is correlated with more direct measures of body fat. Overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 85thpercentile and below the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same ageand sex. Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. Discuss with the doctor about your child's weight.
What are the causes of Childhood obesity?
Majority (~98%) do not have a inside the body problem that cause obesity. However, it is important to know whether the child has inside the body problem or not. The growth, development and puberty are essential characteristics to differentiate between the two. Please discuss with the doctor about the same.
The weight problems due to outside causes is a complex issue. The causes of excess weight gain in young people are similar to those in adults, including behavior and genetics. Obesity is also influenced by a person’s community as it can affect the ability to make healthy choices.
Behaviors that influence excess weight gain include eating high-calorie, low-nutrient foods and beverages, medication use and sleep routines. Not getting enough physical activity and spending too much time on sitting activities such as watching television or other screen devices can lead to weight gain.
In contrast, consuming healthy foods and being physically active can help children grow and maintain a healthy weight. Balancing energy or calories consumed from foods and beverages with the calories burned through activity plays a role in avoiding excess weight gain.
What are the consequences of Obesity?
More Immediate Health Risks are:·
1. Obesity during childhood can harm the body in a variety of ways. Children who have obesity are more likely to have
- High blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risk factors for heart disease.
- Increased risk of diabetes
- Breathing problems, such as asthma and sleepapnea
- Joint problems and muscle discomfort
- Fatty liver disease, gallstones, and heartburn(acidity) ·
2. Childhood obesity is also related to:
- Psychological problems such as anxiety and depression
- Low self-esteem and lower self-reported quality of life
- Social problems such as bullying and stigma
What are the future health risks?
Children who have obesity are more likely to become adults with obesity. Adult obesity is associated with increased risk of many serious health conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
How to prevent weight problems in Children?
Children can consume above 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, screen time below 2 hours, participate in 1 hour of physical activity, and consume 0 sugar-sweetened beverages daily.
Together we can help children attain and maintain healthy weight.