Obesity At Young Ages Is Becoming Increasingly Common

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and, perhaps not surprisingly, is now commonly being seen in teenagers.

However, it would appear that this epidemic has now spread outside of the adult and adolescent population and we are beginning to see obesity at young ages that many people find it hard to believe.

Despite the fact that it is difficult to believe, a recent study that looked at almost 2,000 children reported a disturbingly large number of overweight and obese children at just three years of age.

The study looked closely at a group of children who were born into low income families from 1998 and 2000 in some twenty US cities. The weight and height of the children in the study were recorded at three years of age and the researchers discovered that about one-third of both black and white children were either obese or overweight with this number increasing to forty-four percent in the case of Latino children.

Although across the board these numbers are very worrying, the high percentage of obesity in Latino children is particularly worrying and is so far unexplained. However, the researchers did note that there was a propensity for Latino children whose mothers were overweight to be overweight themselves and further noted that it was more common for Latino mothers to give their children a bottle at bedtime.

In themselves these observations are thought to contribute to the higher percentage of obesity in Latino children, although they almost certainly do not provide the entire answer to the question of why Latino children demonstrated a markedly higher obesity rate.

As well as the stigma that has been attached to obesity and the pressure that these obese and overweight children are going to find themselves under, a variety of medical conditions such as asthma and high blood pressure are also starting to be seen at younger and younger ages. Young children are now also being seen with various conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and heart problems which were previously thought to be only 'adult' conditions.

More articles about obesity:

9 Steps To Tackle The Effects Of Childhood Obesity - Here are 9 simple steps which any family can take to help to tackle the effects of childhood obesity.

Determining Obesity In Children - Determining obesity in children is not quite as easy as it is in adults and we examine just how to tell whether your child is overweight or obese.

The Failure Of Dieting As A Solution For Obesity - For many people suffering from obesity the first line of attack is diet and exercise but, unfortunately, dieting rarely seems to work.

Let's help kids dealing with obesity - Politico (blog)
30 Jul 2010 at 3:44am

Politico (blog)
Let's help kids dealing with obesity
Politico (blog)
One in four children in my home state of Arkansas lives in hunger. One out of five Arkansas children struggles with obesity. Children who are hungry or ...
Sen. Lincoln Leads Charge ...
Texas A&M Pair Seeks To Identify Key Factors In Childhood Obesity, Interventio...
29 Jul 2010 at 9:59am

Texas A&M Pair Seeks To Identify Key Factors In Childhood Obesity, Interventions
KBTX
COLLEGE STATION, July 29, 2010 - Two Texas A&M University researchers are trying to understand factors that contribute to young children's emotional eating ...

and ...
In young girls, obesity linked to early puberty, analysis reveals - WBRC
29 Jul 2010 at 10:11am

ModernMedicine
In young girls, obesity linked to early puberty, analysis reveals
WBRC
Entertainment News from AP WEDNESDAY, July 28 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity is associated with early puberty in young girls, according to a researcher who ...
Early Pu...