There are many adverse health effects associated with being overweight or obese that are observed in children and adolescents. Being overweight or obese during childhood and particularly adolescence is related to increased medical risks/disease (morbidity) and mortality in later life.
Asthma and childhood obesity
The prevalence of moderate to severe asthma, in the overweight or obese child or adolescent, is reported to be significantly higher when compared to a similar aged group of normal weight children or adolescents.
Diabetes (Type 2) and childhood obesity
Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents has increased dramatically in a short period. The parallel increase of obesity in children and adolescents is reported to be one of the most significant factors for the rise in diabetes. Type 2 diabetes accounted for 2 to 4 percent of all childhood diabetes before 1992, but has increased to 16 percent by 1994.
Obese children and adolescents are reported to be nearly 13 times more likely, than non-obese children, to have high fasting blood insulin levels, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is predominant among African American and Hispanic children, with a particularly high rate among those of Mexican heritage.
High blood pressure and childhood obesity
Persistently elevated blood pressure levels have been found to occur about 9 times more often among obese children and adolescents (ages 5 to 18) than in non-obese similarly aged populations. Obese children and adolescents are reported to be nearly 5 times more likely to have high systolic blood pressure and nearly 2.5 times more likely to have high diastolic blood pressure than their non-obese similarly aged peers.
Orthopedic Complications and childhood obesity
Bone and cartilage in the process of development may not be strong enough to bear excess weight associated with the obese child. As a result, a variety of orthopedic complications occur in children and adolescents with obesity. In young children, excess weight can lead to bowing and overgrowth of leg bones. Increased weight on the growth plate of the hip can cause pain and limit range of motion. Between 30 to 50 percent of children with hip growth plate pain are overweight.
Psychosocial Effects & Stigma of childhood obesity
There are a number of psychological and social stigmata associated with being overweight. These existing psychiatric problems, including depression, poor self-esteem, negative self-image and withdrawal from peers can be severe.
From an early age, society stigmatizes obese people as lazy, stupid, slow and self-indulgent. Studies have shown that children express negative attitudes toward their obese peers as early as kindergarten, and that they prefer a playmate who is bound to a wheelchair or disabled by a major physical handicap to one who is obese.
Adolescent females who are overweight have reported experiences with stigmatization such as direct and intentional weight-related teasing, jokes and derogatory name calling, as well as less intentional, potentially hurtful comments by peers, family members, employers and strangers.
There is a clear association between obesity and low self-esteem, especially in adolescents.
Skin Disorders and childhood obesity
Overweight and obese children are much more prone to skin disorders than are non-obese children, especially if deep skin folds are present. These disorders include heat rash, intertrigo, monilial dermatitis and acanthosis nigricans (a condition that may be a marker for type 2 diabetes). In addition, acne should be treated when present, as this may help improve the child's self-image.
Sleep Apnea and childhood obesity
Sleep apnea has been defined as the intermittent absence of breathing during sleep and it occurs in about 7 percent of children with obesity. Deficits in logical thinking are common in children with obesity and sleep apnea.
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