Children become overweight and obese for a
variety of reasons. The most common causes are genetic factors, lack of
physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns or a combination of these factors.
Only in rare cases is being overweight caused by medical conditions such as a
hormonal problem. A physical exam and some blood tests can rule out the
possibility of a medical condition as the cause of obesity. Although weight
problems run in families not all children with a family history of obesity will
be overweight. Children whose parents or brothers or sisters are overweight may
be at an increased risk of becoming overweight themselves but this can be
linked to shared family behaviours such as eating and activity habits . A
child’s total diet and activity level play an important role in determining a
child’s weight. Worldwide obesity trends are causing serious public health
concern and in many countries threatening the viability of basic health care delivery
.It is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and significantly
increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. The last two decades have witnessed
an increase in health care costs due to obesity which is a global phenomenon
affecting all socio- economic groups ,irrespective of age ,sex or ethnicity.
About the Author:
The Author is Ms. Alpana Kumari, PRT, Meenakshi Public School
www.meenakshipublicschool.com
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