Childhood Obesity – A Nightmare For Parents

Parents of overweight and obese children face many difficulties their normal weight peers do not even think of. Frequent doctor visits are a fact of life for overweight and obese children, due to the development of weight-related disorders such as diabetes and osteoarthritis. Along with the daily difficulties associated with these diseases, the overweight or obese person may be personally affected financially as a result of weight-related expenses and reduced income.

The personal consequences and costs of obesity are serious, and the personal financial cost great. Multiple studies have shown that obesity significantly negatively affects personal and working relations, wages, and advancement, particularly for females.

Obesity could limit educational and career options of children

While the health problems related to obesity as children grow older, parents may find it difficult to get their children into top colleges. The career options of obese children, as a consequence are limited.

Many organisations place a ceiling on the obese. Jobs that are available based on talents and abilities are often not available if one is obese. This is particularly so when the job involves social context or a large amount of meet and greet.

Parents of obese children who fail to find a suitable job, end up with the burden of housing a frustrated individual prone to depression or temper tantrums.

Obese children – taking the bottom out of the household budget

Overweight people may or may not spend more than normal-size people on food, but their life insurance premiums are two to four times as large. They can expect higher medical expenses, and they tend to make less money and accumulate less wealth in their lifetimes. They can have a harder time being hired, and then a harder time earning promotions. People carrying as little as 30 to 40 pounds extra can be seriously affected.

In addition to the negative financial impact that excess weight carries, there is also impact on quality of life. Children who are severely overweight may have difficulty performing simple daily tasks, such as tying shoes or walking up a flight of stairs. Many obese children have trouble sitting in, or can not trust the weight limit of, standard furniture. It becomes difficult to go to restaurants or theaters, or to utilize public transportation. Many bathroom facilities would be inaccessible to obese children were it not for the availability of the much larger handicap stall. This could mean that a parent will be literally tied to the child, who will need round-the-clock support.

Suffering the blame of raising kids with negative personality traits

Parents of obese children are often stereotyped as irresponsible for raising children who are emotionally impaired, socially handicapped, and possessing negative personality traits. Compared to normal weight children, morbidly obese children are more likely to incur instances of institutional and day-to-day interpersonal discrimination. Morbidly obese and massively obese children report lower levels of self-acceptance than normal weight persons, yet this relationship is fully mitigated by the perception that one has been discriminated against due to body weight or physical appearance: a more palatable reason psychologically than character or personality defect, or a job not well done.

Parents of obese children who believe that their health care providers look down upon them may avoid seeking care. This reaction is potentially dangerous given that obese individuals are at an elevated risk for many health conditions.

Limiting opportunities to develop romantic relationships

Both obese boys and girls have been reported as being more dissatisfied with their dating status compared with average-weight peers. The results suggest that obese adolescents are at greater risk for mistreatment by peers and may have fewer opportunities to develop intimate romantic relationships. This may contribute to the psychological and health difficulties frequently associated with obesity during adolescence, a time of rapid change in body shape and size as well as dynamic interactions with peers and parents, weight control is a particularly sensitive issue.

Social attitudes towards obesity are negative and usually result in the adolescent becoming withdrawn and isolated. Obese adolescents have feelings of low self-esteem, social isolation, feelings of rejection and depression and a strong sense of failure. Obese children are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors such as smoking or consuming alcohol. Obese adolescent girls are more likely to become sexually active at a younger age in an effort to achieve acceptance and attention.

Parents of children with normal weight have really no idea of what parents of obese children go through. From being ridiculed to being socially ostracized, parents of obese children live a nightmare. Such parents should be treated with understanding, and help should be extended in whatever way possible, as they suffer enough financially and emotionally while raising their children.