Obesity in Children Parents Should Know: Signs and Causes

KOMPAS.com – Obesity in children can be a serious long-term illness, which must be anticipated by parents.

Quoting the Mayo Clinic, obesity in children can cause a number of diseases, such as:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Depression

Also read: 18 Dangers of Obese Children That Parents Should Pay Attention to

Referring to Indonesian Ministry of Health, obese children tend to experience increased blood pressure to affect heart rate. About 20-30 percent of obese children suffer from hypertension.

Obesity in children refers to body mass index (BMI/BMI), a guideline for weight in relation to height.

This article will briefly review the things that parents should pay attention to about obesity in children, including the signs and causes.

Also read: 15 Signs of Obese Children at Risk for Diabetes

Signs of obesity in children

Collect Verywell Healthsigns of obesity in children that are common and need to be considered by parents, include:

• Fat tissue deposits (may be visible in the breast area)
• Stretch marks on the hips and back
• Acanthosis nigricans: darkening of the skin around the neck and other folds that does not come off even when rubbed
• Easily short of breath after physical activity
• sleep apnea
• Constipation
• Have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Early puberty in women
• Delayed puberty in males
• Orthopedic problems, such as flat feet or sprained hips
• Humble

Also read: 7 Causes of Obesity in Children, Lifestyle is the Main Factor

Causes of obesity in children

Quoted from Endocrine Web, the most basic main cause of obesity in children is that they get more calories than the body needs for activities. This is called an energy imbalance.

The condition can be caused by lifestyle and many factors, including genetics, hormones, metabolic makeup, and medical factors.

The following are the various risk factors that cause obesity in children that parents should be aware of:

• Lifestyle factors, including: consuming high-calorie and low-nutrient foods and drinks; overeating; and lack of exercise or physical activity.
• Environmental factors, including: lack of access to healthy food, too much playing with gadgets, and being served high-calorie and low-nutrient foods.
• Genetic factors: a child is at a higher risk of developing obesity if they have at least one parent who is also overweight.
• Psychological factors, including: stress, anxiety, and depression all increase the risk of obesity in children.
• Socioeconomic factors, including: financial difficulties can also affect food purchases, as fast food and high-calorie foods are often cheaper than healthier and fresher foods.
• Medications include: several classes of drugs that promote weight gain, such as steroids, antidepressants, diabetes medications (including insulin, sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones), antiseizure medications (such as carbamazepine and valproate).
• Medical conditions: obesity in children can stem from underlying medical conditions, especially those that disrupt the endocrine system, such as hypothyroidism and Cushing’s Syndrome.

If you see indications of obesity in your child, you can go to the doctor to confirm the diagnosis and the child gets the right treatment according to his development.

Also read: Not eating a lot, these are 6 causes of obesity in adolescents according to doctors

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