Early Childhood Obesity

There has been much public interest and research on the health complications attributed to adult obesity in recent times. However, the same amount of attention should also be given on issues concerning children and obesity among adolescents.

It is a common perception that obesity in children is a purely cosmetic, with little or no medical effects. This is a huge misunderstanding largely based on lack of information and guidelines on childhood obesity.

Early assessment and diagnosis of childhood obesity is extremely important to introduce preventive measures. Medical approach to obesity in children and adults are treated differently. This is mainly because children and adolescents are still growing and many factors must be taken into consideration. Aggressive weight management programs are simply not desirable because it is important not to undermine the child's normal development and growth. Intensive deiting may very well be quite disastrous.

Nutrition Evaluation Clinic and the diagnosis of childhood obesity revolves mostly around the balance of energy less energy intake minus energy production. Unlike adults, where the energy balance is zero, the children need a continuous supply of positive energy balance to sustain normal growth. Subjective assessment and diagnosis of childhood obesity have proved insufficient. This would only result in the possibility of mislabeling non-obese children as obese, and vice versa.

It is also very critical to make an accurate assessment and diagnosis of childhood obesity to reduce cardiovascular risk in their early stages. health complications, such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, hyperinsulinemia, and the prevalence of Type II diabetes can be fatal if not treated. There is also a greater likelihood that childhood obesity may persist into adulthood, which could also affect the child emotionally and socially. Obese children, rest have very low self-esteem and tend to isolate themselves from others. Apart from this, obese people are often subjected to discriminator in our society.

That is the harsh reality that obese people must live with every day. It could cause a person to undergo a deep depression and result in health problems both physically and emotionally.

The growing number of obese people have made this issue a society, not only the load of the infected person. We are all called to help minimize the expected incidents of obesity in children and adults. Early assessment and diagnosis of childhood obesity is still the major key to reducing the numbers. Employing preventive measures is undoubtedly a more effective treatment.