Did you know that childhood obesity can be the trigger for other diseases? Beyond affecting the self-esteem of minors, it affects another variety of pathologies that can affect their quality of life.
20% of Spanish children suffer from obesity, according to data from the Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) published in RTVE. Now, beyond being overweight, did you know that there are many diseases related to childhood obesity?
Read on to find out how obesity can affect your child’s health, in different ways and with varying degrees of severity. Grab a pen and paper and take notes.
Childhood obesity in the world
The WHO has warned for several years of the high prevalence of childhood obesity throughout the world. In fact, it has been listed as one of the main public health problems of the current century. Now, what exactly is childhood obesity?
It is an accumulation of excessive fat in the body, that is to say that the child weighs much more than the weight considered healthy for his age and height. If you suspect that your child is overweight or even obese, consult your pediatrician to carry out an examination of the child.
Diseases related to childhood obesity
Beyond aesthetics, the accumulation of fat can give children illnesses that were considered “adult” in the past. Next we will tell you what problems can affect obese children.
1. Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a type of diabetes that is acquired, that is, it is not congenital. Every time we eat food, the pancreas releases insulin to separate glucose from ingested sugars and thus allow the cells to nourish.
The problem occurs when excess food demands extra work from the pancreas. Over time, it can happen that the insulin-producing cells die and then type 2 diabetes develops.
According to data from a study published in 2017 in the Journal of the Endocrine Society , there is a clear relationship between obesity and the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children.
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