Your Teen’s Obesity and Health Issues Lingers Longer Beyond Size

As a parent, only a few things are more adorable than your teen with chubby cheeks. But this condition might turn into a serious health concern for your teen in the future. In developed countries, nearly 1 out of 4 teens are obese or overweight. It is a complex problem with far-reaching consequences on children. In recent years, the problem of childhood obesity in the United States has increased considerably. About 17 % of children and adolescents are obese in the United States. Teens with extra pounds are at risk of developing serious health problems such as asthma, diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure, kidney disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, fatty liver disease, etc. Apart from health problems, obese kids also may have emotional problems. They usually have low self-esteem and maybe bullied, teased and rejected by their peers. Obese kids always find it difficult to keep up with other kids and participate in sports. They are often rejected, bullied and teased by their peers, which may lead to substance abuse, low self-esteem, eating disorder and even depression.

What are the causes of teen’s obesity?

Childhood obesity occurs when a child’s weight is greater than the normal weight for his or her age. Obesity in kids is a puzzling disease. It remains largely unknown how our body controls weight and body fat. However, the causes of obesity are known. In fact, it is generally known that taking more calories than what you use for energy leads to weight gain in both teens and adults. Knowing this, it’s really important that a parent’s attitude to healthier eating will dictate what happens in the household. Understanding the causes of obesity in children is an important step towards finding solutions to the problem. Here are some of the causes:

• Not getting enough sleep
• Genes
• Poor lifestyle
• Eating fast and junk food
• Lack of exercise
• High carb intake
• Poor metabolism

What to do to help prevent obesity in teens

Here are some tips to help your teen stay at a healthy weight:

• Encourage regular exercise – it burns calories
• Limit their screen time – don’t let them play video games or watch TV for too long (limit to 2 hours a day).
• Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily
• Apply moderation with content and food portions
• Encourage them to drink more water
• Cut down on sugar intake
• Get enough sleep
• Help them to balance their everyday stress with calming solutions