The statistics of Malaysians suffering from obesity has been increasing drastically over the years. According to Star2, Malaysia is now Asia’s fattest country with approximately half of the population obese. The most worrisome thing is that it isn’t only affecting the adults but also the children.

There are many consequences a child may face for being obese, these complications can be immediate or long-term, affecting children both physically and socially or emotionally. Here are the risks of childhood obesity.

Physical risks

Obese children are being diagnosed with a number of health conditions that are previously only seen among adults such as:

Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure and high cholesterol
Liver disease
Bone and joint problems
Breathing problems like asthma and sleep apnea
Abnormally early puberty or menstruation
Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia
Skin infections (due to sweat being trapped in skin folds)
Fatigue

Social and emotional risks

Being overweight or obese during childhood can result in serious psychological difficulties such as:

Anxiety and depression
Low self-esteem and lower self-reported quality of life
Social problems like bullying and stigma
Behaviour and learning problems

Prevention

If your child is at risk of becoming overweight or is currently at a healthy weight, there are some actions that you can take to prevent this before it’s too late.

Limit your child’s sugar intake
Provide them with more fruits and vegetables
Eat meals as a family as much as possible
Limit eating at fast-food restaurants
Make sure that portion sizes are appropriate for their age
Limit TV and “screen time”
Make sure that your child gets enough sleep

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