What are the Consequences?

So America's children are increasingly overweight or obese. Aside from the need for larger school desks and airline seats, is this something that we should be worrying about?

Yes. There are many consequences related to obesity in children and adolescents. While this is in no way an exhaustive list, here are a few things to look out for.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes -- which can lead to blindness, heart and kidney disease, nerve damage and loss of limbs -- was once thought of as a disease that mainly affected adults. Sadly, that is no longer the case.

Before 1992, type 2 accounted for 2 to 4 percent of all childhood diabetes. By 1994, that number had risen to 16 percent. This huge increase is reported to be largely due to the rise in childhood obesity over the same time period.

Asthma

Studies have indicated that obesity can cause children with asthma to use more medicine, wheeze more, and make more visits to emergency rooms than non-obese children suffering from asthma.

High Blood Pressure

Overweight and obese children and adolescents are more likely to have high blood pressure than their peers. One study reported that persistent elevated blood pressure levels were almost nine times more frequent for obese children and adolescents than in other children.

Sleep Apnea

One of the most common complications from childhood obesity is sleep apnea. This is a disorder that causes you to have pauses in your breathing while you sleep. Left untreated, it can lead to all sorts of neurological problems, as well as heart and lung disease, bedwetting and more. Almost 17 percent of obese children and adolescents suffer from sleep apnea.

Bone Trouble

The more you weigh, the more pressure you put on your bones to support you. As a growing person, your bones are often not strong enough to bear the excess weight of an obese individual. You can end up with bowing and overgrowth of leg bones, hip pain, limited range of motion in your joints and other problems.

Mental Health Issues

Aside from all of the physical problems associated with being obese, there are a host of mental issues to be aware of as well. A very common problem is low self-esteem. This can lead to loneliness, depression, nervousness and social isolation. It can also lead to smoking or drinking alcohol regularly at a young age. Obese children, especially girls, are also at greater risk of developing an eating disorder.

Adult Obesity

Finally, overweight and obese children are at greater risk of becoming overweight and obese adolescents. In turn, overweight and obese adolescents are at greater risk of becoming overweight and obese adults.

One in five children who are overweight at age 4 will be overweight when they adults. By the time they are adolescents, their odds of becoming an overweight adult rise to upwards of 80 percent.

Adult obesity can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, several different types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition, and is solely for informational purposes. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 or your local equivalent for all medical emergencies.