Unfortunately, child obesity is a fairly common problem today. After all, often worried parents seek help from a doctor precisely because of being overweight. This is a rather serious condition, such children need constant care, attention and qualified help. Indeed, obesity often leads to a lot of complications, including diabetes.
Obesity in a child and the reasons for its development
Overweight problems can occur for many reasons. Some people believe that the only factor that provokes obesity is unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle. Indeed, an unbalanced diet with a predominance of simple carbohydrates and fats can lead to weight gain. But, unfortunately, the reasons are not always so simple and obvious.
- Obesity in a child is often the result of hormonal imbalance. Typically, this problem occurs in adolescence. This may be the result of inadequate pituitary activity or thyroid disease. In such cases, the quantity and quality of food is only of secondary importance - sick children gain weight quickly, even adhering to the right diet.
- Obesity in a child can also be associated with severe stress, emotional trauma, etc.
- You should not exclude heredity, because quite often a metabolic disorder is associated precisely with various changes at the genetic level. In addition, some genetic diseases, such as Down syndrome, are accompanied by the presence of excess weight.
Obesity in children: photos and main symptoms
It is appropriate to talk about obesity in cases where the body weight exceeds the average statistics by at least 30%. In any case, it is very important to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms. As a rule, obesity in a child is accompanied by lethargy, lack of interest in active games or sports, as well as increased appetite. But there are other signs that you should pay attention to. For example, symptoms such as dry skin, weakness and fatigue, poor school performance, loss of appetite and the appearance of bags under the eyes, along with excess weight may indicate the presence of hypothyroidism. To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will need all the data on the health of the child, as well as the results of the tests.
Obesity: treatment
Therapy in such cases directly depends on the cause of the pathology. If obesity in a child is the result of malnutrition and bad habits, then treatment should start with a proper diet and physical activity. At the same time, experts recommend abandoning easily digestible carbohydrates (sweets, chocolate, sugar), preferring protein products, as well as fresh fruits and vegetable dishes. If overweight is associated with diseases of the endocrine system, then along with proper nutrition, it is advisable to use hormone therapy. The prognosis for the initiation of therapy on time is quite favorable - most children eventually return to normal weight.