Childhood Obesity

A Primer for Parents

In recent years, health officials have become more and more troubled by the rapid increase in obesity among children. During the past 25 years, the percentage of overweight U.S. children between the ages of 6 and 11 has more than doubled. And, the percentage of overweight teenagers has tripled.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you combine the number of kids who are overweight with the number of kids who are at risk of becoming overweight, about one out of three children are affected.

Overweight children are at risk for serious medical problems, which could affect their present and future health and quality of life. These include conditions that were once considered adult diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. Overweight children may also be prone to depression related to low self-esteem from being teased or rejected by peers.

This set of articles explores the problem of childhood obesity, including:

Information about normal growth. Growth is a complex process, which is influenced by many factors, including genetics, age, sex, physical health, emotional well-being, nutrition, and hormones. Read more...

How growth is measured - Body Mass Index (BMI). Your child's BMI is calculated from weight and height measurements and is used by your doctor to determine if your child's weight is appropriate for his or her height. Read more...

Causes of obesity in children.  Although there are some genetic and hormonal conditions that can cause excess weight gain in children, most obesity is due to kids exercising too little and eating too much. Read more...

How parents can help prevent obesity in their children. Preventing obesity in children involves promoting healthful eating behaviors and regular physical activity. Obesity and overweight can be very hard to fix, so it's very important to prevent the problem from happening in the first place. Read more... 

Practical guidance for helping a child who is overweight. Your role as a parent is to care for your children and give them the tools they need for a healthy lifestyle. To help your overweight child, use the same healthy living approach with everyone in your family – adults, teens and kids. Read more...

These articles were written by Michael Bihari, MD. Mike is a member of the Board of Directors, Community Health Center of Cape Cod and member of the Falmouth Public Schools Health Advisory Committee. Mike is also a board certified pediatrician.