What is obesity?
Childhood obesity is when a child or adolescent has an excessive amount of body fat. This complex health issue increases your child’s risk of many medical problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
How do I know if my child is obese?
The team at Nevada Pediatric Specialists screens your child for weight-related health problems during their routine well-child visits. They diagnose obesity based on body mass index (BMI). There are separate BMI charts for adults and children. If you use an online BMI calculator for your child, make sure it is the appropriate tool.
The BMI chart for children and adolescents age 2-19 classifies a BMI at or above the 85th percentile as overweight or obesity. A BMI at or above the 95th percentile is obesity (including extreme obesity), and at or above the 120ths percentile is extreme obesity.
What causes obesity?
Weight gain occurs when you consume more calories than you burn. A variety of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors contribute to this complex condition. Common causes of obesity in children include:
- Eating high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, such as fast food
- Drinking high-calorie beverages, including soft drinks
- Not getting enough physical activity
- Medical conditions, including Prader-Willi syndrome
- Certain medications, such as antidepressants
- Having other overweight people in the family
- Psychological factors, including personal or parental stress
- Having limited access to healthy food options
The team at Nevada Pediatric Specialists works with you and your child to determine the specific factors that contribute to their obesity. Then, they create an individualized treatment plan to help your child achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
What are the health consequences of obesity?
Children with obesity are more likely to have obesity as an adult. This increases their risk for many serious health conditions, including heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Obesity during childhood also increases the risk of various health problems, including:
- Joint pain and musculoskeletal problems
- High blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Breathing problems, including asthma and sleep apnea
- Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
- Fatty liver disease and gallstones
- Mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety
Children with obesity also experience low self-esteem and report a lower quality of life than children with a healthy weight.
What are the treatment options for obesity?
The compassionate team at Nevada Pediatric Specialists provides personalized weight loss counseling to help your child overcome obesity and get on the path to optimal health.
Because weight loss is a complex and individualized process, they begin with a thorough assessment of your child’s medical history and lifestyle behaviors. Then, they recommend the most effective weight loss strategies.
Depending on your child’s specific needs, obesity treatment may include:
- Addressing an underlying medical problem
- Making dietary changes
- Increasing exercise and physical activity
- Behavior modification, including counseling
For complete care of childhood obesity, call Nevada Pediatric Specialists, or book an appointment online today.
