In today’s population, child obesity is fast becoming a serious problem, and the same goes for childhood obesity effects. The fact is that one in five children and teenagers are obese. That is a staggering statistic. Unfortunately, the number keeps on growing. Many health experts, as well as scientists, believe that this generation may have shorter life expectancy compared to the previous generations.
As the number of obese children keeps on growing, many scientists are now looking at the two aspects of childhood obesity effects, namely the physical and the mental aspects. Children who suffer from obesity may encounter the same physical effects as obese adults. Like any overweight adult, obese kids may also be at risk of heart diseases, high blood pressure, type II diabetes, sleep apnea, and certain types of cancer. Take note that diseases such as these have no prejudices.
The childhood obesity effects previously mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. There is a lot that could go wrong in an obese kid’s body. One condition that overweight children are at risk of is coronary heart disease. Keep in mind that heart diseases have no discriminations. It does not matter if you’re black, white, or brown, young or old, male or female. The fact is obesity is a serious risk factor for heart diseases.
The mental aspect of childhood obesity effects can be as serious as the physical aspect of it. An obese kid can suffer from serious psychological problems. A study has shown that some obese children think very little with regards to their quality of life. They presented scores as low as kids suffering from cancer. Obese kids are showing signs of low self-esteem. We all know that some serious mental illnesses are rooted in low self-esteem. This is one of the serious childhood obesity effects.
It is believed that the quality of life is composed of physical well-being, mental well-being, and social well-being. Our quality of life is measured by those three aspects. When you do something to tip the scales and disturb the balance of those three aspects, your quality of life could significantly decrease.
Social biases and low self-esteem are the two main aspects that may have the most effect, psychologically, on obese children as well as adults. Social indifference could result in less or no friends at all. This results in loneliness, which can be a huge factor in having low self-esteem. The isolation and the discrimination that an obese kid endures in school or at home will have great effects on his mental health as he grows up.
These kinds of childhood obesity effects pose a great threat on the next generation of children, if we do not do something about the problem of childhood obesity.
