Obesity in Children

Obesity means that a child weighs more than is considered healthy compared to other children his or her age, gender, and height.

In children, obesity is defined as having a BMI that is greater than the BMI of 95 percent of boys or girls of the same age.

Obesity is a complex health concern. It can increase a child’s risk of developing other conditions, including:

• Diseases such as asthma, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
• High blood pressure.
• Abnormal blood lipid levels.
• Sleep problems.

A child’s weight does not need to be a lifelong problem. Obesity can be treated. This often involves diet changes and becoming more active.

What are the causes?

Obesity in children may be caused by one or more of the following factors:

• Eating daily meals that are high in calories, sugar, and fat.
• Not getting enough exercise (sedentary lifestyle).
• Endocrine disorders, such as hypothyroidism.

What increases the risk?

The following factors may make a child more likely to develop this condition:

• Having a family history of obesity.
• Having a BMI between the 85th and 95th percentile (overweight).
• Receiving formula instead of breast milk as an infant, or having exclusive breastfeeding for less than 6 months.
• Living in an area with limited access to:
  • Parks, recreation centers, or sidewalks.
  • Healthy food choices, such as grocery stores and farmers’ markets.
• Drinking high amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soft drinks.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Signs of this condition include:

• Appearing “chubby.”
• Weight gain.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed by:

• BMI. This is a measure that describes your child’s weight in relation to his or her height.
• Waist circumference. This measures the distance around your child’s waistline.

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition may include:

• Nutrition changes. This may include developing a healthy meal plan.
• Physical activity. This may include aerobic or muscle-strengthening play or sports.
• Behavioral therapy that includes problem solving and stress management strategies.
• Treating conditions that cause the obesity (underlying conditions).
• In some circumstances, children over 12 years of age may be treated with medicines or surgery.

Follow these instructions at home:

Eating and drinking

• Limit fast food, sweets, and processed snack foods.
• Substitute nonfat or low-fat dairy products for whole milk products.
• Offer your child a balanced breakfast every day.
• Offer your child at least five servings of fruits or vegetables every day.
• Eat meals at home with the whole family.
• Set a healthy eating example for your child. This includes choosing healthy options for yourself at home or when eating out.
• Learn to read food labels. This will help you to determine how much food is considered one serving.
• Learn about healthy serving sizes. Serving sizes may be different depending on the age of your child.
• Make healthy snacks available to your child, such as fresh fruit or low-fat yogurt.
• Remove soda, fruit juice, sweetened iced tea, and flavored milks from your home.
• Include your child in the planning and cooking of healthy meals.
• Talk with your child’s dietitian if you have any questions about your child’s meal plan.

Physical Activity

• Encourage your child to be active for at least 60 minutes every day of the week.
• Make exercise fun. Find activities that your child enjoys.
• Be active as a family. Take walks together. Play pickup basketball.
• Talk with your child’s daycare or after-school program provider about increasing physical activity.

Lifestyle

• Limit your child’s time watching TV and using computers, video games, and cell phones to less than 2 hours a day. Try not to have any of these things in the child’s bedroom.
• Help your child to get regular quality sleep. Ask your health care provider how much sleep your child needs.
• Help your child to find healthy ways to manage stress.

General instructions

• Have your child keep track of his or her weight-loss goals using a journal. Your child can use a smartphone or tablet app to track food, exercise, and weight.
• Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
• Join a support group. Find one that includes other families with obese children who are trying to make healthy changes. Ask your child’s health care provider for suggestions.
• Do not call your child names based on weight or tease your child about his or her weight. Discourage other family members and friends from mentioning your child’s weight.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your child has emotional, behavioral, or social problems.
• Your child has trouble sleeping.
• Your child has joint pain.
• Your child has been making the recommended changes but is not losing weight.
• Your child avoids eating with you, family, or friends.

Get help right away if:

• Your child has trouble breathing.
• Your child is having suicidal thoughts or behaviors.