Causes of childhood obesity

People are looking more closely at the causes of childhood obesity, as more and more children in the UK become overweight.

Recent research suggests that in excess of 20 per cent of British kids are overweight. This can lead to a whole host of problems including problems with the joints and bones, high blood pressure, high levels of blood fats, and diabetes. There are also psychological effects such as low self-esteem which is a major factor in the causes of childhood obesity.

Common symptoms include tiredness, backache, headaches, joint problems and poor sleep, allied with difficulties at school.

Causes of childhood obesity are related to various technological, social, economic and environmental changes, with several main strands.

The leading causes of childhood obesity are:

• A reduction in physical activity, and increases in sedentary activities. As physical activity has decreased, both at home and in the school, sedentary activities such as watching TV and playing video games have taken their place. The net result is a marked decrease in calorie expenditure.
  
  
• Eating patterns have changed dramatically in the past fifty years. There has been a dramatic increase in the availability and consumption of high fat and high energy foods. This is true at home, in schools, and in restaurants.
  
  
• Genetics and lifestyle also play important roles in determining a person's weight. Quite simply, many overweight kids have overweight parents. There is also increased prevalence of weight problems in low income families and single parent families.
  
  

In the real world, increased weight is usually a result of a combination of these various factors.