Obesity in Children

Obesity in Children

Obesity in Children

The primary cause of overweight and obesity is an energy imbalance caused by ingesting more calories while exerting less energy (Swan, 2019). Because of the more sedentary character of many types of job, changing modes of transportation, and rising urbanization, there has been a rise in the consumption of energy-dense meals and a reduction in physical activity throughout the world. Obesity is defined as “a chronic, relapsing, multifactorial, neurobehavioral disease in which an increase in body fat promotes adipose tissue dysfunction and abnormal fat mass physical forces, resulting in adverse metabolic, biomechanical, and psychosocial health consequences” (Obesity Medicine Association, 2018).

Obesity in Children

Body mass index (BMI) is a popular method for determining childhood weight status (Obesity Medicine Association, 2018). The body mass index (BMI) is a common, affordable, if imprecise, measure of obesity that is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of his or her height in meters. A BMI of 25 kg/m2 is considered overweight, a BMI of 30 obese, and a BMI of 40 extremely (morbidly) obese (Swan, 2019). The BMI of a person is calculated by dividing their weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. BMI is age- and sex-specific for children and teenagers and is commonly referred to as BMI-for-age (CDC, 2021). The weight status of a kid differs from the BMI categories of adults. The body composition of children changes with age and differs between boys and girls. As a result, BMI values in children and adolescents must be presented relative to other children of the same age and gender (CDC, 2021). BMI is a viable alternative to direct measurements of body fat (CDC, 2021). Regular, opt-in population-level surveys of children’s height and weight enable for the tracking of historical trends, geographical distributions, and, if measurements can be connected to de-identified personal data, correlations with socioeconomic status, surroundings, and health consequences (Swan, 2019).

Obesity in Children

References

CDC. (2021, June 21). Defining Childhood Weight Status: BMI for Children and Teens. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/defining.html

Obesity Medicine Association. (2018). Definition of obesity. Retrieved from OMA: https://obesitymedicine.org 

Swan, J. (2019, March 26). Obesity in America: Management and Treatment in Children, Adolescents, and Adults. Retrieved from Wild Iris Medical Education: https://wildirismedicaleducation.com/courses/obesity-adults-children-ceu