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| The Effects of Teen Obesity |  Obese teens are at high risk of developing serious health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. All these conditions are exceptionally adult diseases. Nevertheless, obese teens may also have a low self-esteem because of continual teasing, bulling, of rejecting by peers.
As a rule, obese children are the last to be chosen as playmates, obese teens are the last to be chosen as friends. Children and teens that suffer from obesity are more likely to develop unhealthy dieting habits and eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa and bulimia, they are more prone to depression and substance abuse.
Obesity has serious impact upon child’s present and future health, and on his or her quality of life. Overweight children are at high risk of developing different medical problems.
The Effects of Teen Obesity
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- abnormal blood lipid levels
- insulin resistance
- type 2 diabetes
- joint and bone problems
- shortness of breath which makes any physical activity more difficult and may intensify the signs or increase the chances of developing asthma
- restless or disordered sleep patterns
- tendency to mature earlier than other children of the same age (obese children and teens may be taller and more sexually mature than their peers: obese girls may have irregular menstrual cycles and may have fertility problems in adulthood)
- gall bladder and liver disease
- depression
- stress
- low self-esteem
Risk factors that are listed above can result into serious adult medical conditions, such as heart disease, heart failure, and stroke.
Preventing and treatment obesity in childhood may reduce the risk of developing these conditions as they get older.
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