Home

What's New

Advances
in Medicine

Health Tips
Ask the Doctor

Mark Your Calendar

Obese Kids Face Adult Health Problems

By now you probably know about the growing problem of childhood obesity. According to the American Heart Association, nearly one out of every three children and adolescents is overweight or obese. In addition to causing increased rates of type 2 diabetes, this epidemic is having other direct health effects among our nation’s children — problems that once affected only adults.

“Obesity in children is a huge concern,” said Kelly Ellis, D.O., of Faith Regional Family Medicine Services. “Obesity in the U.S. is an epidemic and we are now seeing medical health problems starting at much younger ages.”

The Problems of Obesity

Doctors have long known that obesity puts people at risk for multiple health problems. But it was commonly thought that those problems affected only adults. This is no longer the case, as more doctors are seeing the following conditions in their young obese patients:

• High blood pressure: In a study of 5,000 children, 5 percent had high blood pressure — and the strongest risk factor was obesity. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause heart disease and stroke.
• High cholesterol: Ten percent of kids ages 2 to 19 have a total blood cholesterol level higher than the upper limit of the recommended range. High cholesterol increases heart attack risk.
• Metabolic syndrome: This group of risk factors increases the chances for several serious conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
• Plaque buildup: Plaque is a substance that forms along the walls of arteries, increasing the risk for heart attack and stroke.

In addition to these potentially life-threatening problems, obese children may face a greater risk of developing conditions such as anxiety and depression by the time they reach middle school. They also may be more likely to get migraine headaches.

Help Your Child Be a Kid

Dr. Ellis offers these tips to help keep your child’s weight in a healthy range:

• Limit TV time and gaming each day to one hour or less in favor of aerobic exercise.
• Eat fewer fast food and microwave meals. Instead, prepare healthy home cooked meals with the family.
• Incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into snack times.

Healthy Eating for Kids

Kids are notorious for being picky eaters. Faith Regional dietitian Renae Kauth, R.D., certified in pediatric weight management, offers these tips for getting your kids to eat more fruits and vegetables:

• Let kids pick out a fruit and vegetable they want when grocery shopping.
• Mix chopped-up fruit with yogurt.
• Try chopping vegetables into different shapes.
• Let children help clean the fruits and vegetables.
• Offer a food more than once. Offer a food at least 10 times before you assume your child doesn’t like it.