The Causes of Obesity in Children

...and what we can do about it!

There are many causes of obesity in children and in this article we will identify these causes, examine what the health risks are for overweight children and what childhood obesity statistics tell us about the likelihood that obese children become obese adults.

We will also examine some of the options we have available to us in order to combat this growing problem and prevent it from becoming worse.

Obesity in children is a serious problem in today's society and is likely to lead to a whole generation of people with a range of health issues. It is a matter that needs to be addressed with some degree of urgency!

The causes of obesity in children

Food marketing to children

Advertising using cartoon characters

Strategically-placing products at their eye level in stores

Providing toys with their products

Providing well-equipped playgrounds

Of course there are many other techniques used by food marketers to generate children's interest in their products. Unfortunately though, the types of foods being promoted to children are high-sugar and/ or high-fat foods that are cheap to manufacture and these are the exact foods that lead to obesity in children! For more information about some of the techniques used to promote foods to children, read the article on Healthiest Breakfast Cereals.

Access to 'junk foods' during school hours

Vending Machines

Foods supplied in school canteens

Proximity of shops to schools

Each of these factors makes unhealthy foods easily accessible to children immediately before school, during school hours and also immediately after school as well. Making this type of food easily accessible to children during their school day means that they are far more likely to consume these foods compared to healthier options and therefore, increase their chances of becoming obese children.

Cost of food

Food preparation

Taste

Unfortunately though, these days we have an opportunity to eat foods that are loaded with sugar (and that are highly palatable) and this is certainly a major cause of obesity in children or at the very least an increase in the number of overweight children.

Lack of physical activity

Childhood obesity statistics

Results from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), using Body mass Index (BMI), show that around 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2-19 years are obese. Between 1976-1980 and 1999-2000, the prevalence of obese children increased. However, between 1999-2000 and 2007-2008 there was no significant increase in the incidence of obesity.

Ogden et. al. (2010) found that pre-school age children (2-5 years of age) in the US had an increase in obesity from 5 to 10.4% between 1976-1980 and 2007-2008 and from 6.5 to 19.6% among 6-11 year olds. Among adolescents (aged 12-19), childhood obesity statistics showed an increase from 5 to 18.1% during the same period!

Freedman et. al (2007) noted that obesity in children and adolescents increases their risk of health problems during their youth and as adults. For example, during their youth, obese children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes) than are other children and adolescents.

Whitaker et. al. (1997) and Serdula et. al. (1993) both found that obese children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults. In fact, it was determined that approximately 80% of children who were overweight at aged 10-15 years were obese adults at age the age of 25.

Freedman et. al. (2001) found that 25% of obese adults were overweight as children. This study also found that if are obese children (before 8 years old), obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe.

How we can prevent the
growing rate of obesity in children

There are many ways we can stop or better yet, reverse the growing rate of childhood obesity. Here are some suggestions:

Control the way food manufacturers market to children

Limit the accessibility of 'junk foods' during school hours and make more healthy options available

Tax 'junk foods' and re-direct the finds to healthy programs for children like, 'Head Start'

Subsidise the cost of fruits and vegetables for farmers as opposed to other food products

Teach children the benefits of healthy eating and how to prepare healthy foods correctly

Educate parents about rewarding children using 'junk food'

Make exercise in schools compulsory and ensure that it emphasises fun rather than 'hard work'

Obesity in children is becoming a global problem and if we want to prevent it from leading to a range of societal problems in the future, not only from a health perspective but also from an economic perspective, then steps must be taken now it in order to control this problem and ensure it doesn't worsen.

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