Is Your Child Obese (Part I)?

photo credit: Pingu1963

Obesity is becoming a serious problem concerning children and has reached an epidemic level. It is serious as it puts the child at greater risk of acquiring the following health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, heart diseases, respiratory disorders, sleep apnea and joint and bone problems.

The other consequences affect the obese child’s psyche. For example, low self-esteem, poor performance in school and introversion.

What are the causes of obesity?

Previously, I held the belief that obesity is due mainly to genetic as well as overeating. It turns out that there are other significant factors that cause obesity.

• Cushing’s syndrome: There is an increased level of cortisol due to a change in the suprarenal gland and this leads to obesity.

• Hypothyroidism: When there is a reduced level of the thyroid hormone, obesity happens.

• Insulinoma: This is a rare case where there is a tumor in the pancreas which triggers obesity.

• Hypothalamic alterations: The central nervous system may have tumors, swellings and lesion affecting the nerve centers that regulates hunger. Hence, obesity occurs.

• Polycystic ovary syndrome : This syndrome that affects young women, is associated with acne, menstrual irregularities, pancreatic disorders and is the most common cause of obesity.

• Hypogonadism: When there is a drop in the level of the hormone testosterone in men, the adipose tissues become enlarge leading to obesity.

• Genes: Obesity runs in the family.

• Environment: A person’s lifestyle (diet and exercise) has a direct effect on whether that person becomes obese.

I will cover the treatment for childhood obesity in Part II of this article. I hope the above have given you a clearer picture on the possible causes of obesity.

Tagged as: childhood obesity, cushing's syndrome, genes, hypogonadism, hypothalamic alterations, hypothyroidism, insulinoma, obese, polcystic ovary syndrome