Obesity is a common health issue in teenagers. According to Researchers if a child between the age of 10 to 13 is obese then, he/she has 80% chances that the child will have to face major health issues as an adult.
Obesity does not mean gaining a couple of extra pounds. But it is when you keep consuming more calories than you burn and need in a day. Obesity is more common in children now than ever before. The health issues that were only diagnosed in adults are now affecting children who are obese such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.
What are the causes of Obesity?
Teenagers nowadays are glued to their mobile phones and don’t play outside anymore and due to inactivity, there is a high chance of obesity at a younger age. Children are very fond of foods like chocolates, fast food, sugary treats, which contain a lot of calories, and eating it in access could lead to obesity. So a poor diet is a major cause of obesity among children.
Psychological issues can also result in obesity. For example, if a teen is depressed, stressed, and to cope up with that they eat too many calories. Genetics can also cause Obesity. A child is at high risk when hid/her parents also suffer from obesity. It can be due to bad eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle.
Effects of Obesity
High Blood Pressure & Cholesterol
High Blood Pressure & Cholesterol are the issues generally seen in older people but due to obesity children and teenagers are also getting diagnosed with these health issues. If not taken care of this can lead to heart attacks or stroke later in life.
Joint Pain
Extra body weight can put extra stress on knees and hips. Childhood obesity can cause pain and injuries in the knees, hips, and back due to a lack of exercise and activity in the body.
Type 2 Diabetes
sedentary lifestyle and excess intake of sugar in childhood can result in Type 2 Diabetes.
Increase in Body Mass Index
If the lifestyle of the child remains the same then it can increase the problems even more as BMI will continue to increase which can increase more risk.
Self-esteem & Mental Health Issues
When a child is obese, people do bully them due to their weight and body shame them which lowers their self-esteem which leads to emotional problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
Sleep Apnea
An obese child can experience sleep apnea which causes people to stop breathing for brief periods and interrupts sleep throughout the night. It can also cause other breathing problems such as asthma.
Menstrual Problems
Obesity in girls can result in early puberty. Also, it may cause irregularities in the period cycle and problems in later life.
"There's Always A Scope Of Improvement"
Treatment of Obesity
Physical Activity
Including more physical activity like walking, cycling, outdoor sports, exercise, etc in lifestyle can help burn calories and fat which can help treat obesity in teenagers.
Eating Nutritious Food
Eating fresh vegetables and fruits and avoiding food with high-calorie count help treat obesity.
Reducing Screen Time
When teenagers are on mobile phones and Tv they do eat more and become lazy. So reducing screen time can help cure obesity.
Eat Slowly & Only When Hungry
You should eat slowly for better digestion and only when you feel hungry because eating for passing time and not when feeling hungry can lead to overeating and can cause obesity.
Walking For Good Health
Use stairs while going up or down in a building and also walk when the distance is small as teenagers do have a habit of using vehicles for even short distance due to laziness but these little steps can go a long way.
