If a child has too much body fat they are considered obese. A child is considered obese if their body mass index (BMI) is in the 95 percentile, or above, for their age and gender. While some obesity can be genetic the vast majority of overweight children are overweight for the same reasons so many adults are: too much of the wrong types of food and not enough exercise.

Just like with overweight adults, obese children are very prone to many health issues:

1. High blood pressure and high cholesterol. These two health issues are the leading cause of heart disease and an obese child is far more likely to have heart disease when they reach early adulthood!  Again, what used to be considered more of a middle age ailment will often strike an obese child in their early twenties or thirties.   A recent study found that obese children had the same type of plaque buildup in their arteries as what a 45 year old would have.

2. Children who are obese also have a much higher chance of developing onset diabetes.   A study found that obese children are up to two times more likely to have diabetes than children of the same age that weren’t overweight.  This early onset of diabetes can mean a lifetime of health issues and can frequently cause kidney disease and even blindness.

3. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics up to 35 % of obese children have sleep apnea. This disorder causes someone to stop breathing for a few seconds at a time while they are asleep.  Up until recently this was only found in adults.  Sleep apnea can lead to many issues, the most obvious of which is not getting enough sleep. This lack of sleep in a child can cause difficulties in school and learning disabilities in a developing child.

4. Depression is also common in obese children.  Obese children are often mocked and ridiculed by other kids at school which can lead to low self esteem and eventually behavioral problems and trouble in school.

Childhood obesity is a very serious medical, and emotional, issue and is certainly not something that should be ignored as ‘just a phase’.  The good news is that many of the health problems of an obese child can be reversed once the child loses weight.

It’s really not as hard as it may seem.  Encourage your kid to go outside and play, everyday, for at least 30 minutes.  Also getting rid of the fast food and processed food can help a lot.  Kids will often mimic what they see their parents doing so you can get a two for one: you can spend more time exercising and eating right which will help your child to develop healthier habits and that way you’ll both benefit as well as share some great together time!

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Here are the top 10 tips for getting children to eat healthy food:

1. Do not restrict food.  Restricting food increases the risk your child may develop eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia later in life. It can also have a negative effect on growth and development.   Also by restricting food you will actually increase the risk of overeating later in the day which will cause weight gain.

2. Keep healthy food on hand.  Children will eat what’s readily available. Keep fruit in a bowl on the counter, not buried in the crisper section of your fridge.  Remember, your child can only choose foods that you stock in the house, by limiting ‘junk food’ you will, by default, teach your child how to choose healthier foods.

3. Don’t label foods as “good” or “bad.” Instead, tie foods to the things your child cares about, such as sports, academics and hobbies. Let your child know that lean protein such as turkey and calcium in dairy products give strength to their sports and academic performance, the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables add luster to skin and hair and the carbs in whole grains will give them energy to play.

4. Praise healthy choices. Give your children a proud smile and tell them how smart they are when they choose healthy foods. Kids thrive on positive reinforcement!

5. Don’t nag about unhealthy choices. If your child chooses unhealthy foods infrequently, ignore it. However, if your child always wants fatty, fried food, redirect the choice. You might try roasting potato sticks in the oven (tossed in just a bit of oil) instead of buying french fries. Or, if your child wants candy, you might make fresh strawberries dipped in a little chocolate sauce. Too busy? Then keep naturally sweet dried fruit at home for quick snacks.  With consistent effort taste buds change and soon your child will be craving healthy foods.

6. Never use food as a reward. This could create weight problems in later life. Instead, reward your children with something physical and fun — perhaps a trip to the park or a quick game of catch.

7. Sit down to family dinners at night. If this isn’t a tradition in your home, it should be. Research shows that children who eat dinners at the table with their parents have better nutrition and are less likely to get in serious trouble as teenagers. Start with one night a week, and then work up to three or four, to gradually build the habit.

8. Prepare plates in the kitchen. There you can put healthy portions of each item on everyone’s dinner plate. Your children will learn to recognize correct portion sizes.  Too often people go for seconds and even thirds just because the food is right there.  You might notice that you need less food to feel full!

9. Give the kids some control. Ask your children to take three bites of all the foods on their plate and give it a grade, such as A, B, C, D, or F. When healthy foods – especially certain vegetables — get high marks, serve them more often. Offer the items your children don’t like less frequently. This lets your children participate in decision making. After all, dining is a family affair!

10. Consult your pediatrician. Always talk with your child’s doctor before putting your child on a diet, trying to help your child gain weight, or making any significant changes in the type of foods your child eats. Never diagnose your child as too heavy, or too thin, by yourself.  If weight change is recommended seek the help of a Dietitian.

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With the increase in the availability and lower cost of food in Western countries, all but the poorest individuals are at no risk of starving. At the same time, convenience foods, fast food establishments and snacks everywhere have made it all the more likely that many will consume too many calories.

At the same time, with the popularity of computer and Internet activities, children (and teens) spend a larger percentage of time being sedentary than in decades past. TV watching and talking on the phone, of course, have been popular for decades. But with the addition of the Internet, hours of physical activity per week has declined for many.

The result is that children today are on average heavier than they were a few decades ago. They also tend to consume more foods high in complex sugars and fat, and less fiber, fruits and vegetables. The net effect is, for some, obesity.

Obesity is measured somewhat differently for children than for adults, as a result of their rapidly changing bodies and metabolic rates that differ. Children often experience growth spurts that would skew any measurement that used BMI (Body Mass Index) primarily. Instead of using BMI alone as a starting point, BMI is combined with age and gender to create a more accurate picture.

Where an adult would be considered (borderline) obese with a BMI of 30 or greater, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) charts would designate a child as obese at the 95th percentile. The two are roughly equivalent, but it’s necessary to look at the charts for a more careful breakdown.

Percentage of body fat is another important measurement and here again the numbers differ by sex. An obese boy would be identified as one whose body fat was 25% or more of total body weight. For girls the number is 32% of body fat as a percentage of total weight.

One major reason for the difference is simply that females naturally have a higher percentage of body fat their entire lives. For adult males the number is roughly 15% for a healthy, fit individual. But for women the number is around 27%.

As with adults, the way to reduce body fat and excess weight involves the twin partners of proper diet and regular exercise. This will usually involve some lifestyle changes. These are often easier to implement for younger children, and have the added advantage of establishing good habits that typically carry on into the teen years and beyond.

Start on the road to good health young and it will be easier to maintain into adulthood.

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