There has been lot of speculation as well as concern regarding the sudden rise in the number of obese children. Numbers and figures always seem alarming - 15%, 6 million - it seems like it has really metamorphosed, from being a mere anomaly, into a national epidemic, with no signs of abating.

Genetics no doubt plays some role, though it doesn't seem very plausible that our genetic makeup could have changed so drastically over the past two decades that now more and more children are born with the 'fat' gene.

Genetics comes into play, for instance, in a situation where both the parents are obese. In such a case, the chances of the offspring also being obese are very high.

Besides such scenarios, science has shown that certain population segments, based on ethnicity, income, location, etc. have more propensity to being obese than the rest of us. The obesity could be as a result of either of these factors, or a combination of these factors.

Some races are more susceptible than others

For example, Hispanic, African- American, as well as American Indian children display more tendency towards obesity than other Americans.

Studies have revealed that 24 percent of all Hispanic and African-American children are in the obese category, i.e. they are in the 95th percentile set by the CDC.

Among girls, the incidence of obesity is seen more in African-Americans, while among boys, the prevalence is in the Hispanic population.

Calorific diets and reduced exercise are also to blame

Genetics is just one of the factors causing obesity. The real causes are much closer at hand, and do not require high scientific knowledge to understand.

Simply put, obesity in children today is mainly due to reduced activity along with a high calorie diet. Most children today spend time indoors, either in front of the T.V or the computer. This means a reduction in exercising, leading to an increase in body mass and subsequent obesity.

The Impact of Obesity on Children

Children, the saying goes, can be among the cruelest of people. In a world of picture-perfect bodies, where shape is hip and flab is gross, an obese child can be severely emotionally handicapped. An obese child faces serious problems, both physical as well as mental.

The caricature-like look that comes with obesity can cause severe loss of self-esteem in children. This can make them either highly introvert, or bullies. In the latter case, an obese child would make use of his superior size to browbeat all around him. The emotional handicaps are often accompanied by social factors as well.

An obese child can so easily find himself at the periphery of social activity in his peer circle. Who would want to be seen hanging out with the fattest guy in class? Not the pretty girls, usually! All of these cause a lowering of self-esteem and depression.

These are just the emotional handicaps. Besides these, an obese child runs the risk of serious health disorders as well. When the body grows disproportionate to expected size, health disorders are only natural.

Diabetes and Childhood Obesity >>