A new study from UCLA shows that overweight and obese kids face a wide range of health problems in their youth in addition to the ones they could encounter later in life. Researchers compared these kids to normal weight youngsters and found that obese boys and girls are at nearly twice the risk of experiencing medical, mental or developmental conditions, while overweight kids had a risk that was 1.3 times higher. The researchers analyzed data on nearly 43,000 young people between the ages 10 and 17 and found that those who are obese have poorer health; more disability; a greater tendency toward emotional and behavioral problems; higher rates of grade repetition, more frequent missed school days and other school problems; ADHD; conduct disorder; depression; learning disabilities; developmental delays; bone, joint and muscle problems; asthma; allergies; headaches; and ear infections. The investigators speculated that the health problems these kids reported are “likely related to decades of underappreciated changes in the social and physical environments in which children live, learn and play” and urged targeting these influences in obesity-prevention measures. They also encouraged screening youngsters for the disorders associated with obesity. The study is available online and in the January/February 2013 issue of Academic Pediatrics.
Sources:
Neal Haflon et al, “Associations Between Obesity and Comorbid Mental Health, Developmental, and Physical Health Conditions in a Nationally Representative Sample of US Children Aged 10 to 17”. Academic Pediatrics. 2013 Jan;13(1):6-13. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2012.10.007. Epub 2012 Nov 30.
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