Obesity in children, often the result of unhealthy eating and inactivity, is a serious health concern. The 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicates that about 17 percent of children and adolescents age 2 to 19 are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But physical activity can combat this problem.
Identification
Obesity in children is determined by body mass index, which measures weight in relation to height. Classifications of obesity for children are age- and sex-specific because their body composition varies as they age and is different between boys and girls. Regardless of those differences, obese children and adolescents are similar in other ways.
If you're obese, you're more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, compared with others your age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, can help you lose weight and reduce these health risks. Aerobic activities use the large muscle groups in the arms, shoulders and legs and raise the heart rate when performed for an extended time.
If you're obese, you're more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, compared with others your age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, can help you lose weight and reduce these health risks. Aerobic activities use the large muscle groups in the arms, shoulders and legs and raise the heart rate when performed for an extended time.
Types
You can try a variety of aerobic activities to see what works for you. For most obese children and adolescents, the simplest aerobic activity is walking or jogging. You don't need special equipment--just a good pair of exercise shoes. Other aerobic activities include swimming, cycling, rowing, jumping rope or working out on the elliptical trainer.
Considerations
Exercise can be difficult for obese children. But even if you don't follow a regular workout routine, you can still incorporate more physical activity into your life. For instance, take the stairs instead of the elevator or walk to a nearby destination rather than getting a ride. Regardless of what form physical activity takes, healthy children need about 60 minutes of exercise each day. If you're obese, you need at least that, plus a healthy diet, to lose weight.
Factors
Obesity occurs when you consume more calories than you use. Genetic, behavioral and environmental factors contribute to the imbalance. Though genetic factors can't be changed, behavioral and environmental factors can. You can eat smaller portions, select healthier food and cut back on high-calorie foods and sugary beverages. Increasing physical activity is crucial. Spending less time watching TV and playing computer games frees up more time for being active.
Warning
Obesity in children can lead to obesity in adults. A 1997 study by the department of pediatrics at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine found that approximately 80 percent of children who were overweight between the ages of 10 and 15 were obese at 25. A 1993 study by the National Center for Chronic Disease in Atlanta found that a third of obese preschool children were obese as adults, and about half of obese school-age children were obese as adults.
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