Obesity in children is one of the most common medical conditions affecting children in developed countries today. It is not only uncomfortable for the sufferer, but also dangerous to their health and even their life. Obesity is the root cause of many other medical conditions, whether during their childhood, or later on into adulthood. These dangers include heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Apart from these dangers, obesity in children is also responsible for emotional scars and social inadequacies right on into adulthood.

Defining obesity in children is considerably more difficult than adults. In general, the BMI (Body Mass Index) is used and adapted for the child’s age. Another definition is a body fat percentage of above 25% in boys and 32% in girls. In the United States, approximately 15% of children and adolescents fall into this category, and many more into the ‘overweight’ category.

Obesity in juveniles can be caused by several factors:

•    Genetics – children with obese parents or grandparents are more prone to obesity themselves, although parents of obese parents are able to avoid falling into the same trap.
•    Diet – the modern diet of children is not nearly as healthy as it was in generations past. Fast foods are convenient, cheap and more readily available than healthy alternatives. Eating out of boredom or habit (while watching movies or doing homework) is another common cause, as is the accompanying lack of physical activity. Interestingly, families in the lower income brackets have been found to eat more junk food and get less exercise than those of higher incomes.
•    Physical activity – as the world becomes a more dangerous place, children are more inclined to spend time inside. Along with the danger, technology has also advanced so far that children scarcely need to step outside to be entertained 24-7. Their computers, Playstations and X-boxes are ample entertainment and require no physical exercise.
•    Medical conditions or treatments – there are certain illnesses and medications that may cause children to put on weight by causing hormonal imbalances and metabolic disorders.

It is vital that parents of overweight children prevent further weight gain, and that parents of average-weight children maintain that healthy weight. Training children to eat the right foods start from early, but good habits can be enforced at any age. It has been hypothesised that delaying the introduction of solid foods in a baby’s diet can aid in maintaining a healthy weight during infancy and later on. During their toddler years, children should be introduced to fresh fruit and vegetables and should be exposed to minimal amounts of refined sugars, fats and salts. It is also during these early years that children’s time spent in front of the television or computer should be kept to an absolute maximum of 1 hour per day. Once the children get to an age where they prefer to make choices, they should be taught to make good choices regarding both their diet as well as their choice of relaxation. It is important that parents ensure that children of this age do not snack while watching TV, playing on the computer, surfing the Net or doing homework.