Obesity in Young Children

Nearly 1 in 5 American children are obese (Hales et al., 2017). Children who are obese often experience bullying, low self-esteem, and depression. Left untreated, children who are obese are likely to become adults who are obese with an increased risk of developing debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or fatty liver, previously only seen in adults, are now becoming common in children. The emotional costs can be as devastating as the health implications. The etiology of pediatric obesity is multifactorial. Treatment needs to consider poor eating habits and inactivity as well as genetic, metabolic, societal, and environmental factors. Through nutrition intervention and collaboration, family members, the community, and healthcare practitioners can improve the emotional and physical health of children experiencing obesity.