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Asthma
- Prevalence of
overweight is reported to be significantly
higher in children and adolescents
with moderate to severe asthma
compared to a peer group.
Diabetes (Type
2)
- Type 2 diabetes
in children and adolescents has
increased dramatically in a short
period. The parallel increase
of obesity in children and adolescents
is reported to be the most significant
factor for the rise in diabetes.
- Obese children
and adolescents are reported to
be 12.6 times more likely than
non-obese to have high fasting
blood insulin levels, a risk factor
for type 2 diabetes.
- Type 2 diabetes
is predominant among African American
and Hispanic youngsters, with
a particularly high rate among
those of Mexican descent.
Hypertension
- Persistently elevated
blood pressure levels have been
found to occur about 9 times more
frequently among obese children
and adolescents (ages 5 to 18)
- Obese children
and adolescents are reported to
be 2.4 times more likely to have
high diastolic blood pressure
and 4.5 times more likely to have
high systolic blood pressure
Orthopedic
Complications
- Among growing
youth, bone and cartilage in the
process of development are not
strong enough to bear excess weight.
As a result, a variety of orthopedic
complications occur in children
and adolescents with obesity.
In young children, excess weight
can lead to bowing and overgrowth
of leg bones.
- • Increased
weight on the growth plate of
the hip can cause pain and limit
range of motion. Between 30 to
50 percent of children with this
condition are overweight.
Psychosocial
Effects & Stigma
- Overweight
children are often taller than
the non-overweight.
- Girls who develop
a negative body image are at a
greater risk for the subsequent
development of eating disorders.
- Adolescent females
who are overweight have reported
experiences with stigmatization
such as direct and intentional
weight-related teasing, jokes
and derogatory name calling, as
well as less intentional, potentially
hurtful comments by peers, family
members, employers and strangers.
- Overweight children
and adolescents report negative
assumptions made about them by
others, including being inactive
or lazy, being strong and tougher
than others, not having feelings
and being unclean.
Sleep Apnea
- Sleep apnea,
the absence of breathing during
sleep, occurs in about 7 percent
of children with obesity. Deficits
in logical thinking are common
in children with obesity and sleep
apnea.
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