A taller, more muscular child might, at first glance, appear to be overweight compared to her shorter, leaner peers. However, it is important to help children realize that healthy body types come in a number of shapes and sizes and that they can be proud of their own unique, healthy looks. If a parent is concerned that his child is overweight or obese, it may be helpful to consult a physician or growth specialist. The number of seriously overweight and obese youth in the United States is increasing. There are many reasons to be concerned about a trend toward higher BMI figures for children.
Obesity is linked to a variety of serious health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes.
A truly obese child may never outgrow his or her weight problem. Most health and nutrition experts acknowledge heredity s role in childhood obesity. Other health issues, such as a thyroid problem, may cause obesity. Even a Life Saver is 10 calories. In research on childhood obesity it was found that boys and girls who viewed four or more hours of television each day had greater body fat and body mass than those who viewed less than two hours a day.