Dangers of Childhood Obesity

"Dangers of childhood obesity are very real and can
result in the highest premature death rate in history."

Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. This increases to 80 percent if one or more parent is overweight or obese.¹

Childhood obesity could decrease life expectancy by two to five years if something isn't done about the epidemic, according to provocative research by pediatric endocrinologist David Ludwig, an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.²

One in three obese children have excess fat in their liver, which could lead to hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver failure, Ludwig says.

The dangers of childhood obesity affects each organ. Other obesity-related complications affecting virtually every organ — ranging from crippling orthopedic problems to sleep apnea — are being diagnosed with increasing frequency in children. There is also a heavy psychosocial toll: obese children tend to be socially isolated and have high rates of disordered eating, anxiety, and depression. When they reach adulthood, they are less likely than their thinner counterparts to complete college and are more likely to live in poverty.³

Children who are obese in their preschool years are more likely to be obese in adolescence and adulthood⁴ and to develop diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, asthma, and sleep apnea.⁵

The dangers of childhood obesity involve a variety of cripppling illnesses. Obesity, glucose intolerance, and hypertension in childhood were strongly associated with increased rates of premature death from endogenous causes in this population.⁶

The New England Journal of Medicine reports on a long term study of almost 5,000 children. Those who were obese were more than twice as likely to die before age 55, the age used to define "early death."

Dr. Terra Quattrin is Chair of Pediatrics at U.B. and Pediatrician in Chief at Children's Hospital. She's an expert on childhood obesity and she points out that children at high risk may not look overweight.⁷

"And to me, what was also staggering was that 34 percent of these deaths were before age 34, so we're talking very young individuals." said Dr. Quattrin.

References:
Dangers of Childhood Obesity

1. "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity." Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2010. <http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/fact_adolescents.htm>.
   
2. David S. Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D. Childhood Obesity — The Shape of Things to Come. Volume 357:2325-2327. December 6, 2007.
   
3. Ibid
   
4. Serdula MK, Ivery D, Coates RJ, Freedman DS, Williamson DF, Byers T. Do obese children become obese adults? A review of the literature. Prev Med 1993;22:167--77.
   
5. American Academy of Pediatrics. Policy statement: prevention of pediatric overweight and obesity. Pediatrics 2003;112:424--30.
   
6. Franks, Paul W., et al. "Childhood Obesity, Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and Premature Death." The New England Journal of Medicine 362 (2010): 485-493 .
   
7. "Study dangers of childhood obesity | WIVB.com." Buffalo News, Buffalo Weather | News Channel 4 Buffalo, NY | WIVB.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. <http://www.wivb.com/dpp/health/health_news/Study-dangers-of-childhood-obesity>.

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