Teen Obesity

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Health Consequences of Childhood Obesity

Connection between Asthma and Obesity in Children and Teens
Childhood obesity impacts children and teens with asthma. Studies have shown that obese children and teens used more medicine, wheezed more, and a greater proportion of these children visited the emergency rooms than their non-obese peers.

Type 2 Diabetes and Childhood Obesity
Studies in the US show a strong link between obesity in children and teens and an increase in Type 2 diabetes. The health consequences of type 2 diabetes are blindness, heart and kidney disease, and loss of limbs.

High Blood Pressure in Overweight Children
Obese children and teens are more likely than their non-obese peers to have significantly high blood pressure. High blood pressure has a significant impact on the health of the heart and can lead to coronary artery disease (strokes and heart attacks).

Sleep Apnea
Studies published in the Journal of Pediatrics and the Internal Journal of Obesity suggest that obese children are more likely to report an increase in symptoms related to sleep apnea than their normal-weight peers. Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that causes brief interruptions of breathing during sleep, The Journal of Pediatrics reported that sleep apnea is associated with decreased learning and memory functions.

Mental Health Problems among Obese and Overweight Kids
Studies have shown a link between obesity and low self-esteem in some teens (particularly white and Hispanic females). These children will report that they have feelings of loneliness, sadness, and nervousness, and they were more likely to report smoking and consuming alcohol. Reduced self-esteem has also been seen among some male adolescent groups.

Childhood Obesity Leads to Adult Obesity
Approximately 50% of children and adolescents who are obese will become obese adults. Adult obesity is a risk factor for major health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, gallbladder disease, cancer (endometrial, colon, kidney

Parents Beliefs About School Efforts
An overwhelmingly majority of parents support school efforts to strengthen exercise and nutritional programs. According to two national surveys, parents believe that educating students about nutrition and exercise is important; that physical education should be mandatory for students in grades K-12; that they would support programs aimed to fighting childhood obesity and that regular, daily physical activity would help their kids do better academically.