Chilhood Obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Chilhood Obesity - Essay Example Many doctors today refer to obesity as the â€Å"new American epidemic.† an estimated 60 million Americans living within the US are obese. It is further estimated that slightly over 70% of people over the age of 25 have an overweight problem. Obesity is a fast-growing health concern in the USA, with about 13% of all the American children suffering from the disease. The statistics seem to rise every year for chilren By trying to understand the rise in childhood obesity, one gets to know more about obesity itself. According to the American Academy of Pediatricians, children with a BMI of over 30 are the most prone to obesity. There are other institutions which suggest that any child whose body weight exceeds the normal body weight for their age and height by at least 20% is obese. Whatever the exact definition of the condition is, obesity implies excess body fat. Why exactly has obesity become such a serious concern in the United States? You thought an extra pound or two can’t really harm a child, didn’t you? Yes, an extra pound can cause a child serious health problems. Obesity can affect a child both psychologically and physiologically. Some of the psychological risks involved include anxiety problems, depression and anxiety problems. The physiological risks, on the other hand, include diabetes type 2, hypertension and heart ailments. About 45% of the latest cases of juvenile type-2 diabetes are associated with obesity at childhood.