preview

Overweight, and Obesity are Results of Calorie Imbalance

Decent Essays
Open Document

Overweight is the term used to describe excess body weight for a particular height from water, bones, muscles, fat or a mixture of them all. Obesity is defined as having excess body fat, they both are results of calorie imbalance. Within the last 30 years adult as well as childhood obesity has increased significantly. Pediatric obesity has become an epidemic within the last 20 years. At the present time 31% of adults and 18% of children are obese. Body Mass Index is used to diagnose a child as being obese. Most often obesity represents an improper balance in calories ingested and calories expended. There are other causes of obesity such as metabolic, medicine, and other diseases but they are all very rare. In order to successfully lose body fat it requires one to exercise daily and follow proper calorie restrictions. Childhood obesity is on the rise and continuing to grow; however it can be stopped. (Medicine Net) Consequences or problems with obesity can be immediate health effects as well as long term effects. Obese youth are most likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as hypertension and high cholesterol. Long term high cholesterol can leave bad effects on a child’s arteries and could remain an issue into adulthood if not properly treated. Obese adolescents are most likely to get pre-diabetes, this is the stage before it actually turns to diabetes. Diabetes is the most common problem amongst young children who are obese and overweight. Diabetes

Get Access