Obese Kids at Greater Risk of Serious Health and Behavior Problems

A recent report from UCLA has revealed that many health problems begin early for overweight youngsters which could also adversely impact their lives during adulthood. Such children not only become unhealthy adults, but their health problems begin earlier than previously thought. Absenteeism in school was also a common problem among such kids.

A study has cautioned that being overweight in childhood just throws open the possibility of health issues very early in life, therefore it is important to curb the obesity epidemic in children.

The study showed that obese and over weight children carry double the risk of suffering three or more medical, mental or developmental conditions. They could be plagued by learning disabilities, developmental delays, bone, joint and muscle problems, allergies, headaches and ear infections.

Lead author, Dr. Neal Halfon, professor of pediatrics said, "We were surprised to see just how many conditions were associated with childhood obesity. The findings should serve as a wake-up call to physicians, parents and teachers, who should be better informed of the risk for other health conditions associated with childhood obesity so that they can target interventions that can result in better health outcomes."



Source-Medindia