Ask a 'Childhood Obesity Specialist' Online

Children above the average weight for their age and height are called obese. Childhood obesity is a severe condition, as it predisposes the child to develop health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression. BMI (body mass index) is used to determine if the child is obese or not. BMI is calculated by dividing the weight of the child in kilogram by the square of the child’s height in meters. The causes of childhood obesity are regular consumption of high-calorie diet, lack of physical activity, hereditary, stress, and other socioeconomic factors. It can be prevented by limiting your child’s sugar intake, giving fruits and vegetables, limiting eating out, encouraging your child to play outdoors, and limiting screen time.