Adolescent Obesity Problems
March 4, 2008
Obesity is a common problem in countries like America, India etc. In America one in every three person is classified as obese. Obesity is a condition where an adult person is not able to maintain a balance between his calories intake and energy expenditure. Thus the person is said to be in an obese condition.
Obesity is determined through a formula called Body mass Index (BMI). If BMI is more than 30, the person is said to be obese.
Factors Responsible for Adolescent Obesity
These teenagers are at considerable risk of becoming obese adults. As children unhealthy eating habits and poor food choices were main reasons contributing to children obesity. Also lack of Exercise has been a leading cause of child obesity. These children in turn grow into in obese adults. Since a few years there is a considerable increase in the percentage of obesity in adults. This is due to the fact that these growing adolescents have started working at an early age. Business lunches, convenient take always, kiddie’s fast food treats, family meals. Eating out is on a rise for this generation. Thus all these factors are largely responsible for adolescent obesity not only in developed countries but also in developing countries. These teenagers are at considerable risk of becoming obese adults, which predisposes them to a number of medical as well as psychological problems. Apart from spending time, money and effort on spreading awareness, there is also a need to implement programms for controlling obesity and its treatment.
Medical And Psychological Problems That Do Not augur Well
There are medical consequences that do not augur well for adolescent obesity sufferers such as orthopedic problems like slipped capital-femoral epiphysis as well as Blount disease, pseudo tumor cerebri, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, NIDDM and hypertension.
Besides these medical illness or complications rather, adolescent obesity also has psychological impact on these growing adults. Adolescent obesity results in lowered self-esteem, lesser educational achievement, lower incidence of marriage, and also lower household incomes and finally, higher rates of poverty and there by leading to poverty. Also laziness and sloppiness is associated with fatness and thereby having a negative impact on these growing adults. Thus all these have an extremely bad impact on the minds of these adolescents thus resulting into increase in suicidal rates. Which in turn has a bad impact on the growing economy. Adolescent Obesity Must Be Stopped To Prevent Medical And Psychological Problems In The Future.
Treatment and Cure:
Treating and curing obese people is definitely not an easy task. For this the most important factor required is accepting the fact that one is indeed obese and willingness to change. Rest can follow. Also doctors or counselors need to keep in mind certain factors such as diet history, level of physical activity, culturally determined preferences for foods, presence of disorders of behavior and family dysfunction. The doctor needs to particularly address the capacity as well as readiness to change in the adolescents.
Secondly a good obesity regimen needs to be followed. A Successful obesity regime is one in which weight gain is not only prevented but also there is five to ten percent reduction in the body weight as well. It is possible to prevent development of eating disorders, gallbladder diseases as well as other psychological problems.
Summary:
Thus the most important challenge for the health care providers is not only to spread awareness for obesity but also make people aware of harmful hazards of being obese. Once this goal is achieved then there will not too many left to look after.
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