The impact of being overweight is significantly higher on children than adults. During their childhood they are growing physically, emotionally and in maturity, trying to figure out who they are, their likes and preferences, what they want to become and the burden of being overweight becomes crushingly unbearable on children, limiting not just their today but also their future career and personal success. In childhood, obesity is not just about physical appearance or numbers on the weighing scale, but it can seriously hurt a child’s health today and will significantly increase the risk of severe health complications during their adulthood. According to a research paper published by the National Institute of Health (NIH), “Obese children and adolescents were around five times more likely to be obese in adulthood than those who were not obese. Around 55% of obese children go on to be obese in adolescence, around 80% of obese adolescents will still be obese in adulthood and around 70% will be obese over age 30.”
Here are six critical health issues children who are overweight commonly face today and will likely deal with in their future:
- Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes is often referred to as “adult-onset diabetes” but has become increasingly common among overweight children and adolescents. When children carry excess weight, especially around their abdomen, their body’s cells become resistant to the effects of insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Over time this leads to insulin deficiency, where the pancreas, which produces insulin, may not be able to produce enough insulin to compensate for the body’s resistance, leading to a deficiency. Eventually, when the body can’t effectively use insulin, glucose (sugar) builds up in the bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition that requires ongoing management to control blood sugar levels and prevent further complications.
Many people with type 2 diabetes may not experience noticeable symptoms in their early stages. Some common early symptoms could include increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, increased hunger, fatigue, frequent infections, blurred vision and slow-healing wounds.
In the long term such uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of severe complications including kidney disease, cardiovascular diseases, nerve damage, vision impairment, and even blindness. Early intervention and testing is required to identify if your child has type-2 diabetes.
- Cardiovascular Disease
Another common condition for children who are overweight or obese are elevated cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and signs of early cardiovascular disease. Of course, obesity is not the only cause of cardiovascular disease in children. It could be caused by inherited genetic factors and acquired conditions, including congenital heart defects and infections, but the common cause appears to be obesity. Having high cholesterol levels and hypertension during childhood significantly increases the risk of developing heart disease, strokes, and other cardiovascular conditions as adults.
As a child the impacts include difficulty in joining in physical activities due to fatigue and shortness of breath, potentially causing children to withdraw from sports and active play, further exacerbating their weight problems. If these issues continue unchecked into adulthood, these children will have a significantly higher risks for heart attacks, strokes, hypertension, and associated life-threatening complications.
- Sleep Apnea and Breathing Issues
A type of sleep apnea called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is prevalent among overweight and obese children and adolescents and is caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Obesity is not the cause of enlarged tonsils and adenoids; other causes include certain medical conditions and genetic factors. The enlarged tonsils and adenoids can obstruct the child’s airway during their sleep disrupting their sleep. In the short term, with reduced sleep quality, children often feel tired and irritable during the daytime, find it difficult to concentrate, tend to develop behavioral problems, and struggle academically. Poor sleep can further impact appetite-regulating hormones leading children to crave unhealthy food and snacks; further exacerbating weight struggles for them. In the longer term, sleep apnea can significantly increase the risk of chronic respiratory issues, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cognitive decline. As a parent can you recall all the sweet moments you enjoyed with your child when they were infants? Probably not! That is because you were sleep deprived during that phase of their life, having to wake up every hour to feed or change them. So, you know firsthand how sleep deprivation can cause cognitive recall.
- Musculoskeletal Problems
Excess weight in adults places significant stress on bones, joints, and muscles, often leading to orthopedic complications. Excess weight on children can do significant more damage as their bones and muscles are still growing and they can develop conditions like flat feet, joint pain, backaches, deformed bones, slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE—a serious hip joint problem), and premature osteo arthritis. All of this can severely limit the child’s mobility and discourage them from going out to play and develop an active lifestyle. Additionally, according to the Long Island Spine Rehabilitation center “a child who is overweight is less likely to be eating a diet that provides enough vitamin D, calcium, or other nutrients necessary to aid healthy bone growth”.
As they grow into adulthood, these continuing musculoskeletal problems will cause chronic pain, further reduce physical mobility, and diminish the quality of their life. Adults who were obese as children often deal with joint replacements and chronic back problems which further reduces their mobility and ability to get healthy.
- Mental Health and Psychological Challenges
Mental health in children has been one of the most widely discussed topics since the pandemic isolated children for several months. Despite the spotlight on children’s mental health, the consequences of obesity on children’s mental health and wellbeing are one of the most overlooked topics to date. The consequences of childhood obesity for a child’s mental health are very severe. Children who struggle with their weight are frequently bullied, isolated socially, have poor body image and significantly lower self-esteem. At a time when the child’s body and mind are going through so much upheaval and change, these negative experiences for overweight children cause significant mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and even behavioral issues in the short term. As these children grow into adults, they will often continue facing psychological issues, with increased rates of chronic depression, anxiety disorders, social phobias, eating disorders, and diminished self-confidence impacting their relationships and career opportunities.
In a study published on Phycology Today on What We Know About the Obesity Pay Gap, they find that “Men classified as obese earned 5% less than their non-obese colleagues. Obese men in the survey with graduate degrees earned 14% less than those who are not obese. This holds true for both men and women with college degrees”.
- Liver Disease and Gastrointestinal Issues
When excess fat builds up in the liver it leads to inflammation, scarring and impacts liver function; called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is becoming increasingly common among overweight and obese children. Unfortunately, the early symptoms are often subtle and go unnoticed until significant liver damage has occurred. The near-term impact on a child’s includes abdominal discomfort, fatigue, and elevated liver enzymes detected during routine medical tests.
In the long-term if NAFLD is left untreated it can cause severe liver complications like fibrosis, cirrhosis, or even liver failure, requiring liver transplantation.
Helping children achieve healthy weight is becoming more critical today than ever before. However, the approach taken should be holistic and encompass gradual and sustainable lifestyle changes through proper nutrition education, physical movement, age appropriate sleep, stress management and social engagement.
