The Top 10 Health Consequences of Childhood Obesity and How to Reverse Them
As a parent, you’re undoubtedly hopeful your children will enjoy healthy childhoods and flourish as adults. One thing that can dash your hopes is childhood obesity. Unfortunately, a child can face hefty health consequences when severely overweight. Out of 10 adverse consequences, here’s what podiatrist Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm puts in the number #1 position:
- Foot pain. A child’s feet are overly stressed when bearing too much weight. The effects of obesity on a child’s growing feet may include heel pain, hairline fractures, fallen arches, and Sever’s disease, which is inflammation around the heel’s growth plate.
In addition to poor foot health, obese children can suffer from these additional, grave health problems:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Type 2 diabetes
- Asthma
- Sleep apnea
- Acid reflux
- Joint pain
- Menstrual irregularity
- Psycho-social issues associated with being teased, being unable to keep up with other children, or simply having a poor self-image.
Finally, studies have shown that an obese child is more likely to remain obese as an adult. The top ten problems, sadly, are also likely to follow him into adulthood.
Helping a child lose weight gives him a better shot at being a healthy adult. There are several things you can do as a family to encourage your child to get to a healthy weight:
- Get books from the library or read online about healthy eating
- Teach your child how to read nutrition labels
- Go food shopping together and choose one new healthy food to try each time
- Eliminate beverage calories – trade in your sports drinks and cola for water and plain seltzer
- Exercise – walk or play catch after dinner; encourage friends to come over and play
- Limit screen time in favor of more active play
- Cook more at home. It’s easier to limit salt, fat, and calories vs. getting takeout or eating out
At Clifton Foot & Ankle Center, we practice adult and pediatric foot care with equal joy, making children’s and adults’ feet feel better throughout Fairfax County and northern Virginia. To make an appointment with Dr. Wilhelm, contact us online or call our Centreville office at (703) 996-3000.
