Obesity in Children

Obesity occurs in children for the same reason that it occurs in adults. Obese children have a higher food and calorie intake than what they expend through exercise and their daily routine. When more calories are taken in than what are expended the body naturally stores the excess energy in the form of fat and over a period of time this accumulates and eventually the individual reaches the level at which they are classified as obese.

Defining obesity in children

Obesity is defined according to a Body Mass Index (BMI) and obesity in children occurs when they have a reading of 30 or more. For more information on BMI and how it is calculated please refer to our BMI page.

How widespread is the problem and what is it caused by?

Obesity in children is a growing problem in the UK and it is estimated to affect one in six children between the ages of 2 and 15. Being overweight is a precursor to a child becoming obese and the World Health Organisation has estimated that as many as one in ten children are overweight. Globally obesity in children is estimated to effect 30 to 45 million children or around 2 to 3 percent of the world’s children between the ages of 5 and 17. According to previous research a further 22 million under fives are also affected by this condition.

Whilst obesity in children can be impacted by genetic or medical factors it is most often caused by:

•    Genetic – Some conditions can lead to a child being overweight or obese
•    Poor diet – Eating unhealthy foods that have a high calorific value
•    Food quantity – Large portions can lead to excess calorie intake
•    Not enough exercise – Low activity levels and an imbalance between energy taken in and expended
•    Not being breastfed – A British study found that 4.5 percent of bottle fed babies were obese by the time they reached 6 years old versus 2.8 percent that were breast fed

What are the consequences of obesity in children?

Obesity in children places stresses on the body and your child is likely to develop issues in the future when they become adults although some problems can occur during childhood. Unhealthy habits developed during childhood are likely to be carried on when the individual becomes an adult so if you are obese as a child you are far more likely to have weight problems once you become an adult.

Some of the common problems associated with obesity in children are:

•    High blood pressure
•    Type 2 diabetes
•    Asthma
•    Joint and bone problems
•    Headaches
•    Gall bladder disease
•    Psychological problems associated with low self esteem
•    Physical development problems e.g. feet

Treating obesity in children

Surgery should always be considered as a last resort for treating obesity in children and the first point of call should be trying to stick to a healthy diet and regular exercise. If this is not delivering the results then bariatric surgery may be appropriate for treating obesity in children. Having surgery whilst being obese carries inherent risks and your child may have to lose weight before they are eligible for surgery.

For information and advice on treating obesity in children please complete one of our enquiry forms and you will be contacted by a bariatric clinic that is best placed to give you advice on the suitable treatment, eligibility and cost.