Questions and Answers
What percentage of American children between 2 and 19 years are obese?
Approximately 19%
What is the term used to describe children whose BMI-for-age is greater than or equal to the 95th percentile?
Obese
What is the primary method used by healthcare professionals to determine a child's weight status?
BMI-for-age charts
What is a common chronic condition associated with childhood obesity that is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease?
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What is the term used to describe children whose BMI-for-age is greater than or equal to the 85th percentile and less than the 95th percentile?
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What is one way to prevent childhood obesity?
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What is the significance of the 85th percentile in determining a child's weight status?
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What is the source of the data presented in Figure 13.11?
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What is a likely outcome for children who have obesity?
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What health problem is associated with childhood obesity?
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What is a contributing factor to childhood obesity?
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What is a predictor of childhood obesity?
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What is a risk factor for childhood obesity?
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What can help overweight or obese children lose excess body fat?
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What is a consequence of childhood obesity?
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What is a characteristic of children who are obese?
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What is a factor that contributes to the development of childhood obesity?
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What is a risk factor for the development of hypertension, CVD, and type 2 diabetes later in life?
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What are the two main factors that contribute to childhood obesity?
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What is one way to reduce the likelihood of obesity among children according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?
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What is one environmental factor that contributes to childhood obesity according to Table 13.10?
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What should caregivers do to balance the calories children consume with the calories they use for physical activity and need for growth?
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What is the treatment goal for managing childhood obesity?
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What type of surgery may be necessary for adolescents with extreme obesity?
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What is one way community leaders can support ways to increase physical activity for children and adults?
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Why should caregivers limit children's exposure to video games, smartphones, tablets, computers, and TV?
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What should caregivers consult before placing a child or youth on a weight reduction diet?
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What is one recommendation for child care providers and schools to reduce the likelihood of obesity among children?
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What are the primary considerations for determining whether an adolescent is a suitable candidate for bariatric surgery?
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What is the significance of attaining adult height in determining eligibility for bariatric surgery in adolescents?
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What are some of the serious chronic conditions associated with obesity that may improve after bariatric surgery?
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Why is it important to carefully evaluate an adolescent's emotional readiness for bariatric surgery?
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What is the primary goal of medical researchers studying youth who have undergone bariatric surgery?
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What is the significance of BMI of 35 or more in determining eligibility for bariatric surgery in adolescents?
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Study Notes
Childhood Obesity
- Approximately 19% of American children between the ages of 2 and 19 years are obese.
- Between 1988-1994 and 2015-2016, the prevalence of obesity among American children aged 12-19 increased dramatically.
Defining Obesity in Children
- BMI-for-age charts from the CDC are used to determine children's and adolescents' weight status.
- Children and adolescents whose BMI-for-age is:
- ≥ 85th percentile and < 95th percentile are considered overweight.
- ≥ 95th percentile are considered obese.
Health Problems Associated with Childhood Obesity
- Children and adolescents who are obese are more likely to have:
- Elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels.
- Chronic conditions that are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- Psychological and social health problems, such as weight-based bullying and teasing.
- Serious health problems associated with childhood obesity include:
- Impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
- Elevated blood lipids.
- Breathing problems, including sleep apnea and asthma.
- Musculoskeletal problems, including joint discomfort.
- Fatty liver disease, gallstones, and gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn).
- Social and psychological problems, including discrimination and poor self-esteem.
Childhood Obesity: Contributing Factors
- Genetic and biological factors contribute to childhood obesity, including:
- Having parents who are overfat.
- Having a mother who was overfat during pregnancy.
- Having a mother who gained too much weight and/or had diabetes during pregnancy.
- Having a mother who smoked during pregnancy.
- Being undernourished during prenatal development.
- Environmental factors that contribute to childhood obesity include:
- Easy access to foods and drinks high in empty calories at or near schools.
- Limited access to healthy and affordable foods, particularly in areas with many convenience stores and fast-food restaurants.
- Advertising of unhealthy foods targeting youth.
- Lack of set periods for daily physical activity in schools and safe places to be active in many communities.
- Large portion sizes of foods sold in some restaurants and grocery stores.
- Excess exposure to digital media, including television.
Preventing Childhood Obesity
- Recommendations to reduce the likelihood of obesity among children include:
- Breastfeeding infants exclusively for about the first 6 months of life and continuing to breastfeed along with introducing appropriate foods until they are old enough to drink cow's milk safely.
- Providing opportunities for children to be physically active throughout the day in child care and schools.
- Limiting children's exposure to video games, smartphones, tablets, computers, and TV ("screen time").
- Supporting ways to increase physical activity for children and adults, such as creating safe parks, playgrounds, and bicycling and walking trails, and organizing and promoting supervised recreational sports activities.
Treating Childhood Obesity
- The treatment goal for managing childhood obesity is maintaining weight rather than losing weight.
- Encouraging more physical activity, especially for sedentary children, is recommended.
- Caregivers should not place a child or youth on a weight reduction diet without consulting the child's physician.
- For adolescents who are severely obese, treatment approaches that go beyond dietary changes and increased physical activity may be necessary, including prescription medication and weight loss surgery.
- Bariatric surgery can improve the health of adolescents with extreme obesity, but caregivers and health care providers should carefully determine whether an adolescent is a suitable candidate for the procedure.
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Description
Learn about the definitions, health consequences, and factors contributing to childhood obesity, as well as strategies for prevention and treatment.
