child obesity
Childhood obesity is more prevalent today than ever before. ... Child obesity has been medically proven to increase the risk of long-term life altering illnesses. ... To determine if a child is considered obese or over weight a family doctor factors in the childs age, sex, and body build. The total number of fat cells in the body is the major factor in causing obesity. ... If the intake of food is greater than the physical activity excess body fat will be stored in the fat cells, which causes obesity. ... "Genetic differences account for 25-40 percent obesity. Changes in genes take many generations to have effect, so while obesity relates to both genetic and to environment, recent increases in obesity must be due to changes in environment. ... A parent cannot change his childs genes, but it is possible to change the environment the child lives in to help reduce the chances of their child becoming obese. ... Poor eating habits developed at a young age can also cause obesity. ... High fat eating habits of an overweight and obese child can develop into certain life altering health problems in their future, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes. ... Obesity cannot only cause physical health problems but may also cause mental health problems. An obese child may have self esteem problems. ... Providing a positive role model for a child is one important step to decreasing obesity in children. ... Another important step in decreasing obesity in children is to teach them good eating habits.