Causes of Childhood Obesity are a Growing Concern

Experts suggest there are some genetic as well as hormonal factors play a role in the childhood obesity problems that exist today. Yet the main causes of childhood obesity are eating too much and not getting sufficient exercise. Children are also eating too much fatty foods and not enough healthy fruits and vegetables. If your child's calorie intake exceeds the amount of calories he uses up exercising and being involved in other activities and what is required for physical growth your child will put on unwanted weight.

Sedentary Activities

Unfortunately instead of having fun outdoors and getting exercise the typical American child spends too much time indoors watching television, playing video games or surfing the internet and these sedentary activities are causes of childhood obesity. Your child is only going to spend a few calories while involved in these sedentary indoor activities.

American children typically spent too much time snacking which is a prime cause of childhood obesity. It is too easy for them to grab a snack, usually a fatty or sugary snack while watching television or when taking a short break from playing video games. The average person in America, including children has what amounts to be a fourth meal everyday due to snacking.

Experts suggest that eating too much fast food is an important cause of childhood obesity. Studies have also shown that children who have obese parents are 25 to 30 per cent more likely to become obese. This family connection is probably not due to heredity but rather to poor eating habits and a lack of exercise. Parents should be thoughtful concerning their food shopping, the meal and snacks they eat and the amount of exercise they get because their children are influenced by their parents behavior.

Genetics and Childhood Obesity

The influence of genetics on childhood obesity is a little controversial. Some experts believe genetics play a very limited role in the problem while others suggest it is a noteworthy factor in childhood obesity. They site hereditary factors such as metabolism, fat storage in the body, metabolism of blood glucose, hormones and a few other factors. There might be a genetic factor in the obesity of some children; however genetics cannot explain the recent explosion in childhood obesity in the United States.

Studies have shown that approximately one out of five children between the ages of six and seventeen in the United States is considered to be obese. This rate is about twice the rate childhood obesity was about thirty years ago. Experts state that changes in the genes of people and DNA occur over a period of thousands of centuries. The main causes of childhood obesity are eating too much food and a lack of exercise and parents can make the appropriate adjustments in the behavior of their children in order to prevent them from becoming obese or to help them lose weight.

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