Weighty matters Statistics on childhood obesity and its effects are alarming. The BMI factors in height and weight. Obese children are at the 95th or higher BMI percentile, or have a BMI of 30 or above. Parents often contribute to the problem. According to Downey, anything that can help change unhealthy patterns established early in life can have a dramatic impact on the quality of both childhood and adult health.
More asthmatic children are overweight or obese than their peers.
The concurrent rise of childhood obesity and Type II diabetes is are thought to be interrelated in many cases. Worse, persistently elevated blood pressure occurs nine times more often in the obese child or adolescent. Developing bones and cartilage are not strong enough to bear excessive weight. In young children, this weight can contribute to bowing and overgrowth of leg bones. Excess weight on the hip's growth plate can cause pain and limit range of motion.