And not only are obese kids at risk for adulthood diseases, but they are also at higher risk of diabetes, hypertension, asthma, atherosclerosis and physical limitations during childhood. That's all the more reason for parents to leave picky eaters alone, since they will automatically start to eat more as they grow older. Instead, parents should ensure that kids get the right nutrients to see them through the finicky years, by offering them a diet with lots of variety to cover the bases, and perhaps a multivitamin for insurance. Moreover, the heaviest among them were more than twice as likely to have elevated cholesterol levels compared to thinner kids. Extremely overweight kids were at a greatly increased risk of high blood pressure and impaired insulin levels.
Childhood obesity is the most visible consequence of a diet lacking in healthy choices.
But its repercussions far exceed the teasing and psychological distress of being large in a thin-obsessed society. Vitamin stores are actually lower in both obese children and adults. Similarly, a National Cancer Institute study of adult males aged 30 to 59, found that higher body weight was inversely related to vitamin-C levels. So while a weight issue may signify the need to consume fewer calories and increase physical activity, it also points to the necessity of increasing one's nutrient intake to offset the depleting effects that accompany obesity.