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HAZARD
2010
OVERWEIGHT AMONG CHILDREN
Yodia Pertiwi, Nia Destiana, Dewi Haryati, Dwi Yuli
Puspasari
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HAZARD
OVERWEIGHT AMONG CHILDREN
Causes
Being overweight is generally caused by the intake of more calories (by eating)
than are expended by the body (by exercise and everyday living). Factors which
may contribute to this imbalance include:
Overeating
Poor nutrition
Genetic predisposition
Binge
Hormonal imbalances (e.g. hypothyroidism) eating
Stress
People who have insulin dependent diabetes and chronically overdose insulin
may gain weight, while people who already are overweight may develop
insulin tolerance, and in the long run type II diabetes.
• Liver Problems — People who are obese are at higher risk for a liver
problem called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can lead
to cirrhosis.
• Menstrual Problems — Being overweight may cause a girl to reach puberty
at an earlier age. Also, obesity may contribute to uterine fibroids or
menstrual irregularities later in life.
• Trouble Sleeping — Children who are overweight are at risk for obstructive
sleep apnea, which is a serious, potentially life-threatening breathing
disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. Over
a long period of time, this can lead to heart failure.
Metabolic Syndrome
Between 25 percent and 40 percent of children who are overweight will have
metabolic syndrome, which sets the stage for diabetes and heart problems.
Metabolic syndrome includes:
• Abnormal lipids
• High blood pressure
• Insulin resistance
• Obesity
The good news is that the health problems associated with metabolic syndrome
respond well to diet and exercise. When children lose weight — even modest
amounts of weight — it can reverse the negative effects of metabolic syndrome.
Overweight for Life
Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become overweight or
obese adults. It is an extremely difficult cycle to break. An unhealthy diet and a
sedentary lifestyle are known risk factors for the three leading causes of death in
adults: cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease.
Although there are treatment options for overweight children, prevention is the key
to combating the childhood obesity epidemic.
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Treatment
Recent evidence indicates that the spice turmeric may help reduce fat tissue
without making other changes to the diet. The evidence is based on studies with
mice. Researchers next will attempt studies in humans.
Studies suggest that reducing calorie intake by itself (dieting) may have short-term
effects but does not lead to long-term weight loss, and can often result in gaining
back all of the lost weight and more in the longer term. For this reason, it is
generally recommended that weight-loss diets not be attempted on their own but
instead in combination with increased exercise and long-term planning and weight
management.
The health benefits of weight loss are also somewhat unclear. While it is generally
accepted that for significantly obese patients, losing weight can reduce health risks
and improve quality of life, there is some evidence to suggest that for merely
overweight patients, the health effects of attempting to lose weight may actually be
more detrimental than simply remaining overweight. Moreover, for all individuals,
repeatedly losing weight and then gaining it back ("weight cycling" or "yo-yo
dieting"), is believed to do more harm than good and can be the cause of significant
additional health problems. This is caused by the loss of more muscle than fat.
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The problem
The irony of our childhood obesity problem is that children not only are eating
less healthy foods but also are bombarded with additional alternative stay-at-
home activities like watching television or playing video games. When coupled with
the fact that parents working extra hours often find these electronic distractions
suitable as cheap babysitters, it is no wonder that children are having more weight
problems than ever before.
There is good news and bad news about childhood fat on one's stomach. The bad
news is that it is impossible to "spot-reduce" fat strictly off of the abdominal region.
The body burns fat from all over at substantially similar rates. This means that
losing belly fat means children have to lose fat from their entire bodies. The good
news is that a child's body is remarkably efficient at losing fat. All children really
need to do to lose their stomach fat is drastically increase activity level. What
follows are some ways to get your child to exercise.
If organized sports are not your child's cup of tea, try setting time aside a few days
a week to take him or her to a neighborhood playground. Just playing around on a
swing set or jungle gym can provide loads of athletic benefits. Many times, children
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do not need to be openly prodded into exercising; they just have to have the
opportunity presented in an attractive fashion.
While we might think that children with weight-control issues need some type of
overblown exercise plan like an adult, all they really need is to get active in a
variety of ways. The habits one teaches their children about diet and exercise
during their formative years can last for a lifetime, so make sure they are healthy
ones.