Childhood Obesity - A National Epidemic

Childhood obesity is becoming a more and more prevalent problem is our society. As parents become busier and Internet, television, and video games become commonplace in many homes, unhealthy diets and poor exercise habits are causing children throughout the country to gain unhealthy amounts of weight and develop childhood obesity.

All children naturally fluctuate in weight during development, but do you know when you should be concerned? If your child has put on more weight than is needed to support healthy growth and development for his or her age and size, he or she may be on the road to childhood obesity.

Health care providers have long been using percentile growth charts to track children's development from birth into adolescence. Using the growth chart, your doctor determines how your child compares to other children of the same age and sex. If you are told your child is in the 90th percentile for something such as height, that means that when compared to other children of the same age and sex, 90 percent of them are shorter than you child. These charts are now taking your child's BMI into consideration when determining childhood obesity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have determined a cutoff point when determining if a child is overweight or at risk for developing childhood obesity:

While many people think chubby children are cute, childhood obesity is a serious medical concern. Children who are suffering from this condition are at a much higher risk for developing other diseases as they age, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease, and studies have shown that up to 25% of obese adults were also overweight as children.

There are simple measures parents can take in order to prevent childhood obesity. By making sure your child is eating full, healthy meals, limiting junk food, and encouraging exercise and outdoor play, you can promote a healthier lifestyle for not only your child, but your entire family.

If you suspect your child may be overweight and at risk for developing childhood obesity, speak to your doctor. He or she can help you determine whether or not your child is at a healthy weight, and may be able to recommend healthy food choices and fun activities you can do with your family in order to stay active and healthy.