What health problems can childhood obesity cause?
Quattrin: Knee problems, back problems, high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems can all result from obesity. Children who are overweight tend to have poor self esteem and make fewer friends. It’s important to remember that health problems due to obesity can begin early in life. Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult onset diabetes, but now many teenagers and children — as young as 8 years old — have the disease. Are children who are obese more likely to become adults who are obese? Quattrin: Yes. Studies have shown that even 2- to 5-year-old children who are obese have as high as an 80 percent chance of suffering from obesity in adulthood if their parents are overweight. Once the body is used to eating a certain amount of food, the stomach no longer sends the proper signals to the brain to say that you’re full. So when you try to change habits, it’s a struggle. What are some simple steps children and families can take to prevent obesity? Quattrin: Parents should educate them
