Obesity in Teens

Obesity is when a teen has too much body fat. Obesity may become a
serious, long-term disease.

In many ways, childhood obesity is
a puzzling disease. Doctors do not fully understand how the body controls weight and
body fat. On one hand, the cause seems simple. If a person takes in more calories
than
they use for energy, then they will gain weight.

But a teen’s obesity can be caused by a combination of things. It can be linked to:

• Genes
• Socioeconomic issues
• How the body turns food into energy
  (metabolism)
• Not getting enough sleep
• Lifestyle choices
• Emotional issues

Some endocrine disorders, diseases, and medicines may also have a strong effect on
a child’s weight.

Things that may put your teen at risk for obesity are:

• Genes. Obesity may be passed down through families. Having
  even one obese parent may raise a child’s risk for it. Experts are looking at the
  link between genes, the ever-changing environment, and obesity.
• Metabolism. Each person’s body uses energy differently.
  Metabolism and hormones don’t affect everyone the same way. They may play a role in
  weight gain in children and teens.
• Socioeconomic factors. There is a strong tie between
  economic status and obesity. Obesity is more common among low-income people. In some
  places, people may have limited access to affordable healthy foods. Or they may not
  have a safe place to exercise.
• Lifestyle choices. Overeating and an inactive lifestyle
  both contribute to obesity. A diet full of sugary, high-fat, and refined foods can
  lead to weight gain. So can a lack of regular exercise. In children, watching TV and
  sitting at a computer can play a part.

Too much body fat is the main symptom of obesity. But it’s hard to directly measure
body fat. A guideline called the body mass index (BMI) is used to estimate it. The
BMI uses a teen’s weight and height to come up with a result. The result is then compared
with standards for children of the same gender between the ages of 2 and 20.

A teen who is overweight has a BMI
between the 85th and 95th percentile for age and gender. They are obese if the BMI
is
greater than the 95th percentile for age and gender.

Obesity is diagnosed by a healthcare provider. BMI is often used to define obesity
in teens. It has 2 categories:

• BMI at the 95th percentile or more for
  age and gender, or BMI of more than 30, whichever is smaller. BMI findings in this
  category mean the child should have a full health checkup.
• BMI between the 85th and 95th
  percentile, or BMI equal to 30, whichever is smaller. This result means the child
  should have a screening that looks at 5 areas of health risk:
  • Family history of cardiovascular
    disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity
  • High blood pressure
  • Total cholesterol level
  • Large gains in BMI from year to
    year
  • Concerns about weight, including
    the child’s own concerns about being overweight

Treatment depends on your teen’s symptoms, age, and health. It also depends on how
severe the condition is.

Treatment for obesity may include:

• Diet counseling
• Changes to diet and number of calories
  eaten
• More physical activity or an exercise program
• Behavior changes
• Individual or group therapy that focuses on changing behaviors and facing feelings
  linked to weight and normal developmental issues
• Support and encouragement for making changes and following recommended treatments

Treatment often involves the help of a nutritionist, mental health professionals,
and an exercise specialist. Your teen’s treatment goals should be realistic. They
should focus on a modest cutting back of calories, changing eating habits, and adding
more physical activity.

Obesity can affect your teen’s health in a number of ways. These include:

• High blood pressure and high cholesterol. These are risk
  factors for heart disease.
• Diabetes. Obesity is the major cause of type 2 diabetes.
  It can cause resistance to insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar. When
  obesity causes insulin resistance, blood sugar becomes higher than normal.
• Joint problems, such as osteoarthritis. Obesity can affect
  the knees and hips because of the stress placed on the joints by extra weight.
• Sleep apnea and breathing problems. Sleep apnea causes
  people to stop breathing for brief periods. It interrupts sleep throughout the night
  and causes sleepiness during the day. It also causes heavy snoring. The risk for
  other breathing problems, such as asthma, is higher in an obese child.
• Psychosocial effects. Modern culture often sees overly
  thin people as the ideal in body size. Because of this, people who are overweight
  or
  obese often suffer disadvantages. They may be blamed for their condition. They may
  be
  seen as lazy or weak-willed. Obese children can have low self-esteem that affects
  their social life and emotional health.

Young people often become overweight or obese because they have poor eating habits
and aren’t active enough. Genes also play a role.

Here are some tips to help your teen stay at a healthy weight:

• Focus on the whole family. Slowly work to change your
  family’s eating habits and activity levels. Don’t focus on a child’s weight.
• Be a role model. Parents who eat healthy foods and are
  physically active set an example. Their child is more likely to do the same.
• Encourage physical activity. Children should get at least
  60 minutes of physical activity each day.
• Limit screen time. Cut your teen’s screen time to less
  than 2 hours a day in front of the TV and computer.
• Have healthy snacks on hand. Keep the refrigerator stocked
  with fat-free or low-fat milk instead of soft drinks. Offer fresh fruit and
  vegetables instead of snacks high in sugar and fat.
• Aim for 5 or more. Serve at least 5 servings of fruits and
  vegetables each day.
• Drink more water. Encourage teens to have water instead of
  drinks with added sugar. Limit your child’s intake of soft drinks, sports drinks,
  and
  fruit juice drinks.
• Get enough sleep. Encourage teens to get more sleep every
  night. Earlier bedtimes have been found to decrease rates of obesity.

• Obesity is a long-term disease. It’s when a teen has too much body fat.
• Many things can lead to childhood obesity. These include genes and lifestyle choices.
• Body mass index (BMI) is used to diagnose obesity. It’s based on a child’s weight
  and height.
• Treatment may include diet counseling, exercise, therapy, and support.
• Obesity can lead to many other health problems. Some of these are heart disease, type
  2 diabetes, and joint problems.
• Obesity can be prevented with healthy lifestyle choices like being more physically
  active and eating more fruits and vegetables.

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your child’s healthcare provider:

• Know the reason for the visit and what you want to happen.
• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
• At the visit, write down the name of a
  new diagnosis and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new
  instructions your provider gives you for your child.
• Know why a new medicine or treatment
  is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also know what the side effects
  are.
• Ask if your child’s condition can be treated in other ways.
• Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
• Know what to expect if your child does not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
• If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose
  for that visit.
• Know how you can contact your child’s
  provider after office hours. This is important if your child becomes ill and you have
  questions or need advice.