Reference no: EM132253029

Childhood obesity is defined as a condition in which a child is over the average weight for their age. Childhood obesity, which was once found only in developed countries, is now common in developing countries due to the rapid westernization of developing countries. The major factors that result in childhood obesity are dietary intake along with reduced energy expenditure. The likelihood of childhood obesity persisting into adulthood depends on the degree of the overweight state and the age of the child. The more obese and older the child, the greater the risk of the child remaining obese into adulthood. The prevalence of childhood obesity results in both psychological and physiological consequences for a child. Overweight in childhood has been linked to social discrimination, parental neglect and behavioral and learning problems. Obese children face problems of diabetes, high blood pressure leading to heart diseases, respiratory problems and other physiological conditions. Thus, childhood obesity is a major public health concern that needs to be tackled immediately in order to promote a healthy adult population.