Childhood obesity: The epidemic hits minority kids especially hard

 

 

 

 

Reported from Boston Children’s Hospital and other hospitals across the U.S. doctors are treating an alarming number of children for a host of obesity-related conditions that can have life-long implications, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, gall stones and sleep apenea, these conditions once considered to be strictly adult diseases are now being seen in young children.

Obesity occurs when a child is significantly over the ideal weight for her height. Like adults, children become obese when they eat more calories than they use. Obesity in children is determined by using a body mass index (BMI) percentile. BMI is a measure of weight in relation to height.

 

Obesity can increase a child’s risk for serious and chronic medical problems, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, orthopedic problems and liver disease.

For more information on this article please go to  http://www.childrenshospital.org