Child Obesity

Child Obesity

Child Obesity

Introduction

`In 1997, the World Health Organization has declared obesity a global epidemic with implications for health. According to the 1999-2000 National Health Nutrition Examination Survey (www.cdc.gov / NCHS / nhanes.htm), the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and youth in the United States is over 15% a value that has tripled since the 1960s. The health impact of this epidemic are profound. mellitus insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, poor self-esteem, and a decline in health-related quality of life are among the most frequent comorbidities among children and youth affected than their counterparts serving. In addition, up to 80% of obese youth continue this trend into adulthood. Adult obesity is associated with higher rates of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, which are risk factors for coronary heart disease the leading cause of death in North America.

Some children have medical conditions associated with obesity and / or require pharmacological treatments resulting in significant weight gain. Other (1% -2% of obese children) have underlying genetic diseases such as Down syndrome, Prader-Willi, or Bardet-Biedl syndrome, which may be associated with obesity. Rarely, single gene disorders, including congenital defects of leptin and melanocortin 4 receptor, cause morbid childhood obesity.

Observations of twins, siblings, and family studies suggest that children are more likely to be obese if their parents are also affected and that heritability may play a role in at least 25% to 85% of cases. However, to suggest that only genetic factors have caused the recent global epidemic of childhood obesity is not realistic. He is more likely that most of the world population carries a gene combination that may have evolved to cope with food shortages. In obesogenic environments in which the calorie dense foods are readily available and low energy expenditure is ...