Childhood obesity is a rapidly growing problem in all parts of the world, but especially in the more affluent countries such as the United States. In the last thirty years, the number of obese children, under twelve years of age, in the United States has tripled.  Today almost 19% of our children are considered obese, that’s almost one in every five children.

This obesity is a direct result of the ingestion of far more calories than are being expended.  Behavior, as  related mainly to a sedentary lifestyle, and environmental factors, compound the problem.  The virtual epidemic of Childhood Obesity cannot be explained away by the ‘baby fat’ theory or the idea that a ‘growth spurt’ will arrive imminently to melt away the problem.

This wave of obesity is causing both immediate and long term health problems, one of the major ones being the rise in type 2 diabetes among obese children.  The very things that lead to obesity, the high-fat, low-fiber, high-carbohydrate diet of processed foods, are also things that are linked to diabetes.  Add to this the sedentary lifestyle, fed by the obsession with television, video games, cell phones and texting, and we have a lethal combination.  Children of diabetic parents are at increased risk.

Entering puberty as an obese child, when childhood activities take a back seat to school work,  compounds the problem.  Life for the obese child becomes even more sedentary as emotional and social problems associated with obesity, may turn them even more to the comforts of food.  The rapid growth of adolescence causes a child’s body to briefly become resistant to their own insulin.  With normal children,  there may be a short period of weight gain but this passes quickly as the normal growth towards adulthood slims them down rapidly.  This does not happen for obese children where insulin resistance may lead to diabetes.

If you are concerned about your child’s weight, speak to your doctor.  He/She can help you set out a plan to lead your child and your whole family along a road to better health.

Not just the children, but the families of these children, as well, appear to be growing increasingly overweight and even obese.  It is easier for the child if the problem is addressed as a family problem and dealt with by the family as a unit.  The answer to the problem is simple, healthy eating, coupled with increased physical activity.  .

Whether the problem is merely a diagnosis of obesity , a diagnoses of pre-diabetes, or a diagnosis of full blown type 2 diabetes,  steps can be taken that can greatly improve the condition.  It means hard work, and improvements take time, but the sooner you start the more better will be your chance to avoid greater problems in the future.  Bring the family together to discuss healthy eating,  purchase food, prepare food, and take part in a variety of physical activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Obesity  has seen a whole generation of children faced with a myriad of problems that a few years ago, only those over forty faced.

Obesity can lead not only to diabetes but to an increased incidence of asthma, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, liver and Gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, birth deformities, sleep apnea, and blindness.

Over 23 million Americans suffer from diabetes.  It is estimated that there are over 5 million more that are undiagnosed.  57 million Americans have pre-diabetic conditions.   Diabetes is the seventh cause of death in the United States.