CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Childhood obesity is associated with various health-related consequences. Obese children and adolescents may experience immediate health consequences and may be at risk for weight-related health problems in adulthood. top

Psychosocial

Some consequences of childhood and adolescent obesity are psychosocial. Obese children and adolescents are targets of early and systematic social discrimination. The psychological stress of social stigmatization can cause low self-esteem which, in turn, can hinder academic and social functioning, and persist into adulthood. top

Health

Obese children and teens have been found to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and abnormal glucose tolerance.  In a population-based sample of 5 to 17 year-olds, 70% of obese children had at least one CVD risk factor while 39% of obese children had two or more CVD risk factors.

1. Risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, occur with increased frequency in overweight children and adolescents compared to those with a healthy weight.
2. Type 2 diabetes, previously considered an adult disease, has increased dramatically in children and adolescents. Overweight and obesity are closely linked to type 2 diabetes.
3. Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. This increases to 80% if one or more parent is overweight or obese.
4. The most immediate consequence of overweight, as perceived by children themselves, is social discrimination. top

Less common health conditions associated with increased weight include asthma, hepatic steatosis, sleep apnea and Type 2 diabetes.

1. Asthma is a disease of the lungs in which the airways become blocked or narrowed causing breathing difficulty. Studies have identified an association between childhood obesity and asthma.
2. Hepatic steatosis is the fatty degeneration of the liver caused by a high concentration of liver enzymes. Weight reduction causes liver enzymes to normalize.
3. Sleep apnea is a less common complication of obesity for children and adolescents. Sleep apnea is a sleep-associated breathing disorder defined as the cessation of breathing during sleep that lasts for at least 10 seconds. Sleep apnea is characterized by loud snoring and labored breathing. During sleep apnea, oxygen levels in the blood can fall dramatically. One study estimated that sleep apnea occurs in about 7% of obese children.
4. Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being reported among children and adolescents who are obese. While diabetes and glucose intolerance, a precursor of diabetes, are common health effects of adult obesity, only in recent years has Type 2 diabetes begun to emerge as a health-related problem among children and adolescents. Onset of diabetes in children and adolescents can result in advanced complications such as CVD and kidney failure. top

ADULTS

Premature Death

1. An estimated 300,000 deaths per year may be attributable to obesity.
2. The risk of death rises with increasing weight.
3. Even moderate weight excess (10 to 20 pounds for a person of average height) increases the risk of death, particularly among adults aged 30 to 64 years.
4. Individuals who are obese (BMI > 30) have a 50% to 100% increased risk of premature death from all causes, compared to individuals with a healthy weight. top

Heart Disease

1. The incidence of heart disease (heart attack, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina or chest pain, and abnormal heart rhythm) is increased in persons who are overweight or obese (BMI > 25).*
2. High blood pressure is twice as common in adults who are obese than in those who are at a healthy weight.
3. Obesity is associated with elevated triglycerides (blood fat) and decreased HDL cholesterol ("good cholesterol"). top

Diabetes

1. A weight gain of 11 to 18 pounds increases a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes to twice that of individuals who have not gained weight.
2. Over 80% of people with diabetes are overweight or obese. top

Cancer

1. Overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk for some types of cancer including endometrial (cancer of the lining of the uterus), colon, gall bladder, prostate, kidney, and postmenopausal breast cancer.
2. Women gaining more than 20 pounds from age 18 to midlife double their risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, compared to women whose weight remains stable. top

Breathing Problems

1. Sleep apnea (interrupted breathing while sleeping) is more common in obese persons.
2. Obesity is associated with a higher prevalence of asthma. top

Arthritis

1. For every 2-pound increase in weight, the risk of developing arthritis is increased by 9 to 13%.
2. Symptoms of arthritis can improve with weight loss. top

Reproductive Complications

1. Obesity during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of death in both the baby and the mother and increases the risk of maternal high blood pressure by 10 times.
2. In addition to many other complications, women who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to have gestational diabetes and problems with labor and delivery.
3. Infants born to women who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to be high birthweight and, therefore, may face a higher rate of Cesarean section delivery and low blood sugar (which can be associated with brain damage and seizures).
4. Obesity during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of birth defects, particularly neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.
5. Obesity in premenopausal women is associated with irregular menstrual cycles and infertility. top

Additional Health Consequences

1. Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risks of gall bladder disease, incontinence, increased surgical risk, and depression.
2. Obesity can affect the quality of life through limited mobility and decreased physical endurance as well as through social, academic, and job discrimination. top