Overweight and Obese Children

The rising cost of college tuition isn't the only increase parents need to worry about. The soaring weight of children is another. In the last three decades, the number of obese children in the United States has more than tripled. According to the American Obesity Association, about 15 percent are now obese, and 30 percent are overweight. This is not a cosmetic problem according to Stephanie H. Abrams, MD, an expert in childhood obesity at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, "This is a disease and it's an epidemic." Excess weight is responsible for a range of psychological and physical ailments. "It's literally killing our children," says Abrams. Kids can't reverse this worrisome trend by themselves; parents must be aware of risk factors and help steer their children towards good health.

How will you know if your child is overweight?

Regular pediatric appointments are essential. The doctor can tell you if your child's rate of gain is too fast, and can determine the rank of his or her weight relative to other children of the same age and sex by finding your child's Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a number calculated with a specific formula using child's weight and height. The BMI figure is then plotted on the CDC's BMI for age growth charts for either boys or girls. Placement of the figure will tell you what percentile your child's weight falls into. Unlike adults, there is no strict raw number of BMI that makes a child overweight or obese. The definition is completely based on the percentile for age and sex.

You can determine whether your child's weight is healthy on your own with the CDC's Child and Teen BMI Calculator. This tool will also plot your child's BMI on the corresponding graph. If the number lies in the 85 to 94.9 percentile, he or she is considered overweight. If the number is equal to or greater than the 95th percentile, he or she is considered obese.

What are the signs that your child could be headed for a weight problem?

One signal is a lack of exercise. It used to be that kids came home from school and played outside until their parents called them in for dinner. "The parenting standards in our society have changed. Because of safety issues, parents now have to observe their children constantly. It's not doable, so they have to keep kids entertained in the house." The result? Little to no physical activity and hours in front of the television, computer or video games -- with snacks. If your son or daughter is not engaged in some kind of physical activity for at least an hour a day, whether it's organized sports or simply dancing to music or kicking a ball around, this is a red flag.
In the last three decades, the number of obese children in the United States has more than tripled. Find out if your kid's weight is in the danger zone and learn about the emotional and physical cost being an overweight child.


What else indicates my kids' weight is in danger?

Lack of exercise alone doesn't signal weight trouble. Loss of the family table is another marker. It's common for both parents to work. If they're running late, so is dinner. The solution: high-calorie fast foods with sodas. Monitor how frequently your family consumes fast food and high calorie juice or cola. Abrams has treated children who drink a liter of soda every day. And frequent consumption of notoriously high-fat school lunches, which often consist of fried chicken nuggets, pizza, and hamburgers is another area to track. If your child is on a five-day-a-week school lunch program and doesn't engage in physical activity, there's a chance he or she will put on extra pounds. If you notice your child falling into any of these habits, and you think you are buying him or her bigger clothes more often, he or she could have a weight problem. Your pediatrician can assess whether or not your child is battling a weight issue, or is experiencing a natural growth spurt.

What are the side effects of obesity?

"The number one side effect seen in overweight and obese children is low self-esteem and depression," says Abrams, who feels that media messages teaching us that 'thin is beautiful' fuel the crisis. Abrams has also seen patients with a number of disorders such as: orthopedic complications -- the developing bone and cartilage of children are not strong enough to carry excess weight, which can lead to bowing and overgrowth of leg bones; cerebral hypertension -- a condition in which the amount of fat in the body interferes with blood flow from the brain to the heart. The blood flow backs up and increases pressure in the brain, which increases risk of blindness; fatty liver disease, a condition in which fat in the organ exceeds safe levels. Over time, this could lead to non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Other side effects include hypertension, type 2 diabetes, gastroesophagal reflux, sleep apnea, asthma, and gallstones. Many overweight children go on to become overweight adults.