Aug 11
18
An Overview of Teen Obesity
In recent decades, there has been an increasing trend of overweightedness and obesity all over the world and statistics do not lie. This same alarming trend has been observed among teenagers. In statistics on teen obesity that were provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in 2006, there has been an increase of 14 to 18.2 percent in boys and 13.8 to 16 percent in girls.
Even the British Medical Journal published the results of a study in 2009 which compared the harmful results of overweightedness and obesity to smoking. Same study about childhood obesity in America was also done. According to the UK research study, being overweight during the period of late adolescence carries the same risks as smoking 1 to 10 cigarettes daily. On the other hand, being obese during late adolescence carries the same risks as smoking more than 10 cigarettes daily.
Read the rest of this articles and learn more facts about this ‘morbid’ truth.
Why Teens Overeat
Child obesity in America has become a serious issue. There are many factors that have been cited as to why teens overeat and eventually become overweight and obese.
The first factor is poor eating habits. Because of the hectic pace of the world we live in, most families don’t have the time to prepare healthy, balanced meals in the home for their children, so that they turn to the high cholesterol meals being sold by fast food restaurants.
The second factor is lack of exercise. Although schools do have exercise and sports programs, the time allotted to them is insufficient to curb any growing weight problems. Sadly, most kids don’t exercise or play sports outside of school and prefer to spend most of their time indoors.
The third factor is the proliferation of junk foods and fast foods. Because of the proliferation of these unhealthy foods, teens can easily satisfy their hunger cravings since they are affordable and within reach.
The fourth factor is stress. Since teenagers are in a transition period, they have difficulties coping with the demands of peers and society. As a way of seeking immediate gratification, they overeat. Sadly, weight problems will also lead to psychological troubles pertaining to self-esteem.
Health Risks among Overweight and Obese Teenagers
Unfortunately, being overweight or obese during teen years could lead to the development of chronic illnesses, which may carry over to adulthood. These medical conditions include cardiovascular disease (with an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes at an early age), hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Of course, there is pickwickian syndrome that is common to obese people.
Studies have shown that eating too much of certain foods can result to the development of cancer during early adulthood. One example is eating too much French fries. Studies have shown that heavy French fries consumption may lead to the early onset of breast cancer in women, the earliest age being their 20s.
What to Do
Many suggestions have been put forth to curb overweightedness and obesity in teenagers.
First and foremost is to encourage teens to get out of a sedentary lifestyle. Reduce times for television and video games. You can do exercises with your teenager every morning before he or she goes to school. Encourage them to join in sports. You can also jog or walk with them to the park.
Secondly, foster good nutrition in your teen. You can educate them on the benefits of a healthy diet and the recommended intake for each food group. Come up with healthier alternatives to the junk foods that your teens eat.
Finally, if you want your teens to live a healthy lifestyle, it should always start with you. Be a good role model by eating healthy foods and exercising daily.
Learn more information about teen obesity today!
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