Childhood Obesity Facts And Figures
That childhood obesity is a serious matter that countries all over the world are confronting is proven by the childhood obesity facts and statistics. This article will show you just some of the facts on childhood obesity so you can better understand how alarming the situation is. Some time ago obesity was more associated with adults than with children or adolescents. But over the years things have changed. Moreover, obesity in children has more than tripled in the past 30 years. If in 1980 the prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years was 6.5%, in 2008 it reached 19.6%. In what concerns the adolescents, the prevalence of obesity in teenagers aged 12 to 19 years has increased from 5% to 18.1% in the same period of time. The childhood obesity statistics and facts can show a very clear image on how bad things are.
Regardless the physical effects of obese there are many more severe complications that can be brought by obesity. By physical effects consider “the way you look” for the moment. Most of the children will be rather worried about the way they look than their health or at least they should be. Studies have proved that children who come from families where there are other obese members do not seem to be too focused on their appearance. But more than this, obesity has a great impact on children’s health.
The doctors are more and more concerned about the constantly increasing number of children or adolescents who suffer from type 2 diabetes mainly due to being overweight. Also, obese children are much more at risk of developing certain heart conditions due to the high levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure. Basically the heart has to overwork and this usually results in heart related medical conditions. Still, the specialists are yet not sure whether obesity is a risk factor for heart diseases if the child loses weight by the time he or she is an adult. Anyhow, it was brought to our attention that more than 70% of those who are obese during childhood will remain the same in their adulthood. This is maybe one of the most important facts on childhood obesity. Thus, obesity being related or not with heart diseases in adults who have been obese when children is not really a question. It is a serious matter since most of these children remain obese even when they grow up.
Obese children are facing another serious health related problem and this is Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea is a medical condition in which the patient suffers from interruption of breath while sleeping and which in rare cases can provoke difficulties in learning and memory. Other important child obesity facts are the liver diseases that obese children are at higher risk to develop or the orthopedic problems or asthma.
Once again childhood obesity facts prove that children must follow much healthier diets and have more active lifestyles so they will be able to be healthier adults and live normal lives as they should with no medical illnesses caused by obesity.