Childhood Obesity Causes

Childhood obesity is occasionally attributed to underlying medical causes, but medical experts typically agree that poor eating habits combined with lack of exercise usually causes childhood obesity.

If your child has weight issues, there are a variety of factors that may be contributing to the problem including:

A sedentary lifestyle. Many children and adolescents spend a lot of time in front of the TV, a computer, or a video game screen. Experts estimate that children spend an average of 4.5 hours per day in front of a TV, computer, or video game screen.
Eating a diet dominated by fast foods and processed foods. Sometimes, parents and children become so busy with work, school, and sports that they don't have time or make time for regular balanced meals. They end up loading up on fast foods (which are mainly fried and high in calorie and fat content), sugary drinks, and vending machine snacks.
Emotional eating. Some children and adults use eating as a psychological escape. They overeat in order to comfort themselves when they suffer from stress, fatigue, boredom, or other issues.
Family grocery shopping patterns. If parents buy high-sugar, high-calorie processed foods instead of fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk and dairy products, fish, and whole grain breads and cereals, they aren't giving their children a choice. Children typically eat what they're served (or what's available in the pantry and refrigerator). They also develop a taste for sweet and salty foods and crave more.
Poverty. Some social researchers believe that people with low incomes do not have the time, the knowledge, or sufficient resources to provide their children with nutritious low calorie meals and snacks. These parents may work long hours, grab fast foods for meals, and skip buying fresh fruits and vegetables that may appear to be too pricey at the supermarket.

As you can see, the causes of childhood obesity are many and varied. And, the effects of childhood obesity can be profound. The physical, psychological, and social well-being of all children is at stake when the incidence of obesity in children leads experts to declare childhood obesity the No. 1 health problem for children and adolescents in America.

If your child struggles with obesity, visit your pediatrician. He or she will likely conduct a physical exam and test your child for a few rare medical conditions before drawing other conclusions about the causes of your child's obesity. These childhood obesity causes are genetic or hormonal in nature and include Prader-Willi syndrome and Cushing's syndrome. If these conditions are ruled out, your pediatrician can help you develop and exercise and diet plan to get your child back to optimal health.