These are just a few of the mariad illnesses your child can develop (may they are already showing signs), if they do not fight obesity in the childhood years.

One of the ways to measure obesity is through BMI, or Body Mass Index. For adults, it is calculated using weight and height. An adult with a BMI that is above 30 is usually considered obese. BMI calculations for adults are neither age nor gender specific. Although BMI is a useful tool in diagnosing obesity, it is usually used in conjunction with other factors.

BMI is also used for children, but it is more specific. Children grow at different rates, so age and gender are taken into account when calculating BMI for them. Children that are in between the 5th percentile and the 85th percentile are considered to have a normal BMI. If the number is between the 85th and 95th percentiles, they are considered to be “at risk” for being obese. Any number above the 95th percentile is considered to be obese.

Childhood obesity facts have shown that there really isn’t one determining factor when it comes to children being overweight. There are usually a number of causes involved including:

All are contributing factors towards obesity, no matter what the age of a person is.

Obese children are more apt to suffer from sleep problems, such as sleep apnea. That is a condition in which a person stops breathing at irregular intervals while sleeping. Children that are overweight are also more at risk for developing cardiovascular problems and they often suffer from high blood pressure. High cholesterol levels are another issue.

It seems that two of the main contributors that lead to weight gain are poor eating habits and little to no physical activity. If a child is consuming more calories than they are expending, weight gain usually follows. Eating too much of the foods that are high in fat and sugar can contribute to obesity. That’s why it is important to eat a healthy diet, especially one that is low in processed foods. Participating in some type of daily physical activity is also very important, because children that get regular exercise are less likely to be overweight.

Childhood Obesity Facts for Prevention

Fighting and preventing childhood obesity if easy if you know what to do.

A child requires at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. If you are worried about your child, talk to your doctor about the steps you can take to help fight back. Your child's health is counting on you to help your child take the right steps.

Definition of Obesity - You have to learn what obesity is before you can learn how to fight back.

Causes of Obesity - What causes obesity and how can you fight back.

Treatments for Obesity - Learn the best way to treat your obesity.

Preventing Childhood Obesity - Learn how to prevent your child from becoming Obese.