Childhood obesity = lifetime of problems

by Jacki Donaldson (Subscribe to Jacki Donaldson's posts)
Jan 17th 2008 8:00AM

Categories: Healthy Kids, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements

Imagine being told your child is at risk for type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, liver failure, sleep apnea, and a shortened life span. Imagine this blow getting worse as you learn that nearly every organ in your child's body is under stress, compromised by something plaguing about 25 million children in the United States: Obesity.

Experts have long known that hauling around extra weight takes a huge toll on a child's health. How profound this toll is gets clearer by the day. Consider these devastating facts:

Childhood obesity can decrease life expectancy by two to five years.

One in three obese children have excess fat in their liver, which can lead to hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver failure.

Obesity affects every organ system in a child's body in a much more serious way than obesity affects adults because kids are still growing and developing.

While the American Heart Association is at work trying to get better physical education and more nutritious foods in school, parents are the most important piece in the childhood obesity puzzle. It's critical they help their kids make wise dietary choices so they can live long, productive, and healthy lives.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

peggyt1243 1-27-2008 @ 1:59PM

I am a foster mother. Two years ago a 13 year boy arrived. He had a 48 inch waist, was 5'7" tall and weigheed 236 lbs. He now weighs 160 and has grown to 6 feet. He did not diet. He just ate normal healthy food instead of junk. If he can do it, anyone can.