|
|
||||
 |
How many children affected by the obesity epidemic? Children, ages 2 through 5: 10 percent are obese. Children, ages 6 through 11: 15.3 percent are obese (doubled from 1980 to 2000, quadrupled from 1975 to 2000); 30.3 percent are overweight Adolescents (ages 12 to 19): 15.5 percent are obese (tripled from 1980 to 2000); 30.4 percent are overweight. Are some ethnic groups at higher risk for obesity? African American, Hispanic American, and Native American children and adolescents have particularly high obesity prevalence. Will all obese children become obese adults? Excess weight in childhood and adolescence has been found to predict overweight in adults. Overweight children, aged 10 to 14, with at least one overweight or obese parent (BMI >= 27.3 for women and >= 27.8 for men in one study), were reported to have a 79 percent likelihood of overweight persisting into adulthood. How are overweight and obesity in children and adolescents defined by bariatric physicians? A measurement called percentile of Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to identify overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. The 85th percentile is a reference point for overweight, and the 95th percentile is the reference point for obesity. What is the significance of the 95th percentile? The 95th percentile corresponds to a BMI of 30, which is the marker for obesity in adults. The 85th percentile corresponds to the overweight reference point for adults, which is a BMI of 25. It is recommended as a marker for children and adolescents to have an in-depth medical assessment. It identifies children that are very likely to have obesity persist into adulthood. It is associated with elevated blood pressure and lipds in older adolescents, and increases their risk of diseases. It is a criterion for more aggressive treatment. The CDC growth charts now include the BMI Click here to read about and download the CDC's Growth Charts. Which health conditions are associated with being overweight or obese? Asthma. Diabetes mellitus, type 2: Increased from 2 to 4 percent of all childhood diabetes in 1992 to 16 percent by 1994. African American and Hispanic children are particularly high risk. Hypertension: Nine times more prevalent in obese children and adolescents. Orthopedic complications: In children, excess weight can lead to bowing and overgrowth of leg bones. Increased weight on the growth plate of the hip can cause pain and limit range of motion. Sleep apnea: The absence of breathing during sleep, occurs in about 7 percent of children with obesity. Psychosocial effects and stigma: Higher risk of negative body image, eating disorders, teasing, discrimination. Peers and others may perceive overweight children as being inactive, lazy, or unclean. 
|
|
|
© 2008 Fred Bloem, M.D. |