Why Is Obesity Caused In Children As Young As Five?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over 9 million children aged 6 to 19 years old are overweight or obese. In a frightening trend, this number has tripled since 1980. In this same time period, childhood obesity has doubled for preschoolers (2-5 years old) and adolescents (12-19 years). This problem is not limited to the United States but is a growing epidemic in many countries.

Ignoring obesity in preschoolers a growing issue

Believing that children may merely have "baby fat" or grow out of their weight problems is a fallacy. Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. This number increases to 80 percent if one or more parent is overweight or obese.

UCSF researcher Robert Lustig, MD, professor of clinical pediatrics at UCSF Children's Hospital notes in a review of obesity research that the western diet is the key reason for childhood obesity.

Lustig proclaims that a high calorie, low fiber diet promotes hormonal imbalances that encourage preschool children to overeat. Other factors commonly attributed to the rise in obesity include frequent fast food dining, too little physical activity at school and home, larger portion sizes, and lack of sleep.

Are parents the main reason for obese children?

Parents play an important role in the growth, development, and socialization of children Additionally, overweight parents may pass on a combination of genetic predisposition to becoming overweight and unhealthy eating habits to their children. An Australian study showed that fathers who were permissive or disengaged were more likely to have children with a higher body mass index. Obesity in children is far more complex than a vanity issue. Along with the rise in childhood obesity is a dramatic increase in diseases and conditions that were previously more prevalent in adults.

Being overweight puts a greater strain on the still developing bodies of children. Childhood obesity puts children at greater risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, joint problems, sleep disorders and more. One in three obese children has excess fat in their liver. This excess fat could lead to hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver failure. Not to mention the emotional toll on children who are subjected to teasing and/or isolation by their peers.

Does lack of sleep contribute to obesity?

To maintain a proper weight it is better to start young. Young does not mean ten or fifteen years old. Weight management can begin from infancy. New studies have found an alarming correlation between the amount of sleep that infants get, and their tendency to retain excessive weight. Babies and toddlers who sleep for less than 12 hours a day are twice as likely to be overweight by the time they are three years old.

The research also shows that if this lack of sleep is combined with more than two hours of television a day, it can "increase the risk even further". This was proven by a side issue whereby the children in this group, all of whom were overweight had spent at least two hours on television per day on average.

Scientists from Harvard University, and other institutions examined 915 children from birth to age 3 years old. The children who slept less were also found to be spending the time lost from sleep on television. Researchers said that "daily sleep duration of less than 12 hours during infancy appears to be a risk factor for overweight and adiposity in preschool-aged children". They proposed that parents should use strategies, including sleep hygiene methods, to improve sleep duration among young children because they are important to prevent children from becoming overweight. Parents should remove televisions and games consoles from bedrooms to help their children sleep better.

It is never too early to plan a weight management program for your children. All it needs is a little knowledge, a concern for the well being of your children and discipline to follow through. The earlier you start watching the weight of your child, the healthier will be your child's growth into adulthood.