Running Head HOW CHILHOOD OBESITY CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC DISEASES 1

How Childhood Obesity Can Lead To Chronic Diseases Later in Life

Capstone Formal Research Paper

Jaya Bhatti

Career Life Connections 11

Mr. Koshman

September 29th 2017

HOW CHILDHOOD OBESITY CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC DISEASES 2

Introduction

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that can affect children and adolescents, and it

is beginning to become a common issue. "Obesity is defined as an abnormal or excessive fat

accumulation that may impair health" (Childhood Obesity Foundation, 2016). Overweight and

obesity in children is known to have a significant impact on a persons physical and

psychological health. In addition, overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into

adulthood, and are more likely to develop chronic diseases. The main idea of this paper is how

childhood obesity can lead to chronic diseases as an adult, and discovering the consequences,

contributors, and possible preventions of childhood obesity.

Obesity in children is a widespread issue in North America and internationally. "In 1990, 32

million infants and young children globally (aged 0 to 5) were overweight or obese. In 2013, the

number of infants and young children who were overweight or obese increased to approximately

42 million children worldwide" (World Health Organization, 2016). "It is estimated that by 2025,

if the same tendencies continue, 70 million young children and infants will be overweight or

obese" (World Health Organization, 2017). In Canada, there has been a major increase in obesity

rates that have been rising in these past decades. "Obesity rates among children and youth in

Canada have nearly tripled in the last 30 years" (Childhood Obesity Foundation, 2015), and it is a

growing problem. Without intervention, overweight children will continue to be obese

throughout the rest of their childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Most adolescents do not

outgrow this problem and in fact, many continue to gain excess weight. If current trends

continue, by 2040, it is estimated that up to 70 percent of adults aged around 40 years old will

either be overweight or obese" (Bruce, 2014). Without taking action, childhood obesity can lead
HOW CHILDHOOD OBESITY CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC DISEASES 3

to chronic diseases and a wide range of serious health complications later in a person's life,

therefore as an adult.

Overweight and obesity in youth are essential public health concerns and are of a particular

interest because of its associations with leading to chronic diseases as an adult. "Kidney disease,

asthma, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke, cardiovascular disease, non-

alcoholic fatty liver disease, gallbladder disease, lower body bone and joint problems,

osteoarthritis, grown abnormalities, breathing problems such as sleep apnea, certain kinds of

cancer, gout, rashes or fungal infections of the skin, and acne are illnesses that obese children are

at risk of developing as an adult" (Williams, 2008). In addition, "these illnesses, diseases, and

health problems brought on by childhood obesity take the lives of around 300,000 people each

year" (Williams, 2008). According to the Childhood Obesity Foundation, "adults who have dealt

with obesity through their childhood following along to their adulthood may die up to 3 to 7

years earlier than other adults with healthy weights" (2015).

"Chronic diseases will take the lives of over 35 million people each year, and there are many

other factors that can cause chronic diseases other than being overweight or obese. An unhealthy

diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, and infectious agents that are

responsible for cervical and liver cancers are all factors" (World Health Organization, 2005).

Additionally, some environmental factors, such as air pollution can contribute to a range of

chronic diseases including asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases. Psychosocial, genetic

factors, low birth weight, and aging also take a major role in what can cause chronic diseases.

Although, with all these other causes of chronic diseases, one of the most intermediate risk

factors along with raised blood pressure and abnormal blood lipids is being overweight or obese"

(World Health Report, 2010).

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Every aspect of the environment and lifestyle in which children are born and raised can

contribute to their risk of becoming overweight or obese. "Choosing healthy foods for infants

and young children is critical because food preferences are established in early life" (Birch,

Savage, & Ventura, 2007). Getting enough physical activity per day is crucial to staying healthy,

and the increasingly urbanized and digitalized world is starting to offer fewer opportunities for

physical activity. Through this article we will look at consequences, contributors, and

preventions of childhood obesity. This will include looking at the food options being advertised

to kids, along with investigating the fact that children do not have a proper nutritional diet due to

lack of time or money. Furthermore, we will investigate how childhood obesity can lead to

chronic diseases, along with exploring the possibility of obesity being hereditary.

Defining Childhood Obesity

"Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health"

(Childhood Obesity Foundation, 2016). Body mass index (BMI) is a measure used to determine

childhood overweight and obesity. "Overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the

85th percentile and below the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex.

Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same

age and sex" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Body mass index is calculated

by using age and height, "BMI is calculated by dividing a persons weight in kilograms by the

square of height in meters" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). BMI is age and

sex specific for children and teens, and it is often referred to as BMI-for-age. This is used

because "childrens body composition varies as they age and varies between boys and girls.

Therefore, BMI levels among children and teens need to be expressed relative to other children

of the same age and sex" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016).BMI does not
HOW CHILDHOOD OBESITY CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC DISEASES 5

directly measure body fat, although research has shown that it measures more direct forms of

body fat including, "skinfold thickness measurements, bioelectrical impedance, densitometry

(underwater weighing), dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and other methods" (Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). According to Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 2016, this growth chart is used as an indicator to measure the size and growth pattern

of children and teens, ages from 2 to 19:

Weight Status Category Percentile Range

Underweight Less than the 5th percentile

Normal or Healthy Weight 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile

Overweight 85th to less than the 95th percentile

Obese 95th percentile or greater

Causes of Childhood Obesity

There are many reasons that can cause a child to be greater or equal to the 95th percentile, which

is classified as obese."Genetics are one of the biggest factors examined as a cause of obesity.

Some studies have found that BMI is 2540% heritable. Although, this genetic factor only

accounts for less than 5% of cases of childhood obesity" (Sahoo, Choudhury, Sofi, Kumar, &

Bhadoria, 2015). Therefore, while genetics can play a role in the development of obesity, it is not

the main cause of the dramatic increase of childhood obesity."The main causes of childhood

obesity are poor nutrition and lack of exercise" (Williams, 2008). When unhealthy, fatty or
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sugary foods are consumed along with deficient amounts of exercise, obesity is the main

outcome. Other contributors to childhood obesity include lack of financial resources,

psychological factors, and the environment children are being raised in.

"Eating high calorie foods regularly like fast foods, baked goods and vending machine snacks

increases weight" (Williams, 2008). The food being advertised to children these days has

increased obesity rates. "Foods served at fast food restaurants tend to contain a high number of

calories with low nutritional value" (Sahoo, Bhadoria Choudhury, Sofi, & Kumar, 2015). Many

families opt for these places as they are often favoured by their children and are often convenient

and inexpensive. Research shows that "close to 34% of children and adolescents from ages 2 to

19 eat fast food every day, resulting in a weight gain of 6 extra pounds per year, per child"

(National Health and Nutrition Exam Survey, 2012). "Sugary beverages have been proven to

increase BMI by small amounts over numerous years, from a study examining children aged 9-

14 from 1996-1998. Sugary drinks are less filling that food and can be consumed quicker, which

results in higher calorie intake" (Sahoo, Bhadoria Choudhury, Sofi, & Kumar, 2015). "A

Canadian survey showed that children's pop consumption continues to rise through the years, and

boys aged 6 to 11 consume the most, with drinking an average of 553 grams of soft drinks per

day, which is nearly two cans" (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2012). Lastly, portion

sizes have increased drastically in the past decade. "Consuming large portions, contribute to an

excessive calorie intake. This energy imbalance can cause weight gain, and consequently

obesity" (Sahoo, Bhadoria Choudhury, Sofi, & Kumar, 2015).

With the abundance and availability of unhealthy foods, children are prone to becoming

overweight or obese when their eating habits are not balanced with a sufficient amount of

physical activity. "Technological luxuries including televisions, computers, laptops, and video
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games, contribute to childhood obesity" (Williams, 2008). Each additional hour of television per

day increases the occurrence of obesity by 2%" (Sahoo, Bhadoria Choudhury, Sofi, & Kumar,

2015). Television viewing among young children and adolescents has increased dramatically in

recent years. "In Canada, children aged 5 to 16 spend an average of six and half hours a day on

front of a screen, compared to around 3 hours in 1995" (Wakefield, 2015). This time spent on

mobile devices, video games, and televisions could be time spent participating in outdoor

activities such as playing catch with a friend, riding a bike, or playing a friendly game of soccer.

"Research has indicated that the number of hours children spend watching TV associates with

their consumption of the most advertised goods including sweetened cereals, sweets, sweetened

beverages, and salty snacks" (Sahoo, Bhadoria Choudhury, Sofi, & Kumar, 2015). The increased

amount of time spent in front of a screen, has decreased the amount of time spent in physical

activity, thus leading to the fact that activity level plays a major role in childhood obesity.

Lack of financial resources contribute to the dramatic rise in childhood obesity."Children raised

in low-income homes have a greater risk in becoming obese. Poverty may hold back parents

from being able to provide their children with exercise and a proper nutritional diet due to a lack

of time and money" (Williams, 2008). Furthermore, environmental factors take a toll in

childhood obesity. "Children of obese or overweight parents are more likely to be overweight or

obese" (Williams, 2008). Children inherit the lifestyle their parents live, they eat the same food,

and they mimic their parents level of activity. Every aspect of the environment and lifestyle in

which children are born and raised can contribute to their risk of becoming overweight or obese.

"Choosing healthy foods for infants and young children is critical because food preferences are

established in early life" (Birch, Savage, & Ventura, 2007). Lastly, psychological factors have

been proven to be a complex problem in childhood obesity. "Obesity can result from low self-
HOW CHILDHOOD OBESITY CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC DISEASES 8

esteem, depression, anxiety, stress, social problems or dramatic life events" (Mayo Clinic, 2016).

"Personal, parental, or family stress can make some children overeat to cope with problems in

their lives or to deal with emotions, such as stress or boredom" (Williams, 2008). Examples that

can lead to children overeating which can make them more susceptible to becoming obese

consist of, deaths that occur in the family, the divorce of parents, or moving to another home.

Overall, the causes of childhood obesity include a poor nutritional diet, children not getting

enough physical activity each day, children spending as excessive amount playing video games,

watching television, and spending time on their mobile devices. Additionally, other risk factors

include living in an environment where healthy eating and physical activity are not encouraged,

coming from a low-income home, and overeating to cope with stress or social problems. Lastly,

a main cause that could always be considered is the fact that obesity is hereditary.

Consequences of Childhood Obesity

There are many consequences that come with childhood obesity, including medical, physical,

mental, social, and emotional consequences. "Childhood obesity is associated with a higher

chance of premature death and disability in adulthood. Overweight and obese children are more

likely to stay obese into adulthood and develop medical conditions at a younger age" (World

Health Organization, 2017). "These medical conditions include, but are not limited to, asthma,

type II diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease,

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, gallbladder disease, lower body bone and joint problems,

osteoarthritis, growth abnormalities, breathing problems such as sleep apnea, certain kinds of

cancer, rashes or fungal infections of the skin, and acne. Additionally, insulin resistance, glucose

intolerance, menstrual abnormalities, and impaired balance, are all illnesses that obese children
HOW CHILDHOOD OBESITY CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC DISEASES 9

are at risk of developing" (Williams, 2008). "Until recently, many of these health conditions

were only found in adults, although now they are extremely common in obese children. In the

worst cases, some of these health conditions can result in death (Sahoo, Bhadoria Choudhury,

Sofi, & Kumar, 2015). "Overweight and obesity are the fifth leading risk for global deaths. At

the least, 2.8 million adults worldwide die each year as a result of being overweight or obese,

from the chronic diseases and health brought on by obesity" (European Association for the Study

of Obesity, 2013).

In addition with being concerned about numerous medical concerns, emotional, social, and

mental health problems are another result of childhood obesity. In most cases, children who

suffer from childhood obesity often have low self-esteem issues and are most likely depressed.

"Children who are overweight or obese are often teased or bullied because of their weight"

(Mayo Clinic, 2016). Bullying and social emphasis on ones appearance can result in a loss of

self-esteem of an obese child and this can increase the risk of depression, because "low self-

esteem can create overwhelming feelings of hopelessness" (Mayo Clinic, 2016). Furthermore,

obesity in children can cause them to have trouble developing social skills, also they tend to

have more anxiety then a normal weight child" (Williams, 2008). These children could be

insecure about their appearance, which can make interacting with other people difficult. "These

problems might lead to children acting out and disrupting their classroom, or to completely

withdraw themselves socially" (Mayo Clinic, 2016). This often makes school difficult, and many

overweight children have trouble learning, which results in a poor academic outlook. "A research

study concluded that overweight and obese children were four times more likely to report having

problems at school than their normal weight peer" (Sahoo, Bhadoria Choudhury, Sofi, & Kumar,

2015).
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All in all, some outcomes of childhood obesity can result in serious health problems, and chronic

diseases developing at a young age. Additionally, these health problems progress as one goes

through adulthood, and some of these health problem could result in death. Other effects

childhood obesity causes a child other than an unhealthy weight include, emotional and social

health problems. These problems can affect how a child views themselves and most importantly,

how a child feels about themselves.

Possible Ways to Prevent Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity can be prevented if certain steps are taken. A healthy diet is important in the

process of preventing childhood obesity, along with an appropriate calorie intake" (Williams,

2008). Key things to remember are to limit a child's consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages,

provide plenty of fruits and vegetables, limit eating out, especial at fast-food restaurants, and

adjust portions sizes appropriately for age. Canada's Food Guide is a helpful resource when

balancing a healthy diet, because it illustrates the appropriate number of servings for each food

category that should be consumed each day, assorted by age groups.

"The amount of spent watching television, using the computer, or any other devices should be

limited to less than 2 hours each day" (Mayo Clinic, 2016). Additionally, "children and

adolescents that are of the age 6 and older need at least one hour of physical activity per day in

order to stay healthy. Most of the hour should be either moderate or vigorous aerobic activity. In

addition, children should participate in muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening activities at

least three days a week" (Laskowski, 2016). Playing on playground equipment along with

jumping rope cover all these bases at once. Lastly, a way to prevent childhood obesity can by

changing the environment and lifestyle in which you live. Parents need to set expectations for
HOW CHILDHOOD OBESITY CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC DISEASES 11

their children. When parents model making healthy eating decisions, and being physically active,

their children's health will be influenced in a positive way.

Conclusion

"The prevalence of obesity affects about 42 million infants and young children worldwide"

(Childhood Obesity Foundation, 2015). The growing issue of childhood obesity is a major health

concern that is not uncommon. "The percentage of obese children, aged 2 to 17 in Canada

increased from 15 percent to 26 percent, between 1978 to 2004" (Childhood Obesity Foundation,

2015). These numbers will continue to grow and threaten the health of many people, if a change

is not made. Children will soon be faced with many health problems including type 2 diabetes,

high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and much more. Childhood Obesity is preventable

and with a balance between a healthy diet and exercising daily, a child can reduce its risk of

becoming obese. These steps must be taken to prevent obesity, or the numbers will progress,

while they continue to endanger the health of children worldwide.

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