Allowing your child to become overweight could have serious health implications on their long-term health, not least of all their lung function.
As a parent, controlling your child’s diet and ensuring they eat a healthy balanced diet and take regular exercise is vital.
A number of illnesses and conditions are caused by obesity, or made worse, and could potentially put your child’s life in danger.
Children who are overweight are nearly twice as likely to develop medical, mental or developmental conditions, than children of an average weight.
Asthma, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities are among the conditions obesity could cause or exacerbate, according to a recent study.
Researchers at the UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) conducted a population-based study in the United States which showed an association between a child’s weight and the health conditions they may suffer from.
The study showed that obese children were 1.3 times more likely to have poor health, including emotional and behavioral problems, depression, allergies and asthma.
To reach their conclusions, researchers reviewed data from a national survey of children’s health. They looked at the weight and general health of 43,300 10 to 17 year olds to assess the impact obesity has on their wellbeing.
A total of 15 percent of those studied were overweight and 16 percent were obese.
Researchers hope the rise in childhood obesity will be addressed to help limit the associated rise in childhood health conditions and encourage doctors and parents to be more aware of the risk of health problems associated with childhood obesity.
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