Childhood obesity has become a worldwide epidemic. Did you know that 1 in 5 children are obese and 1 and 4 are considered overweight. Minority children suffer even higher rates of obesity. All of these statistics are very alarming and there are several contributing factors that have led to this epidemic. You should understand that childhood obesity affects children exactly like obesity affects adults. Both obese children and adults have a higher chance of developing hypertension, high cholesterol, low self-esteem, asthma, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes and even some forms of cancer.

Here are some interesting facts about childhood obesity.

1. Both adults and children with lower education and income levels are more likely to become overweight or obese.

2. Children that have overweight or obese parents are more likely to be overweight or obese as well.

3. Children that were not breastfeed have higher risk of becoming obese children and adults.

4. Children watch about 10 to 20 food and drink commercials per day.

5. In the United States alone, food and beverage companies spend millions of dollars marketing their products to children. Unfortunately, many of these products are extremely high in sugar, fat and calories.

6. Obese children have a higher risk of dying prematurely than children of normal weight

7. Young female children that have physically inactive mothers are more likely to be sedentary and ultimately become overweight.

8. Statistics show that children and teens that spend more than 4 hours per day watching television or on computer are more likely to become overweight or obese.

In today’s economic times, most households have both parents working outside the home. Unfortunately this situation leaves children at home alone watching television or surfing the internet for hours where they are inundated with advertisement after advertisement for tasty but unhealthy treats and snacks. As these children begin to gain weight, some are ridiculed and bullied which can lead to depression and low self-esteem. With depression and low self-esteem, children can develop even more weight and health problems.

Parents of children that have a higher risk for obesity should be mindful of their child’s diet and exercise routine. These statistics do not mean a child is destined to become overweight or obese. It simply means that they have a higher chance. If both you and your child work hard and stay on top of your child’s diet, exercise and health, you can both break the cycle of obesity.

Childhood obesity has become a worldwide epidemic. Did you know that 1 in 5 children are obese and 1 and 4 are considered overweight. Minority children suffer even higher rates of obesity. All of these statistics are very alarming and there are several contributing factors that have led to this epidemic. You should understand that childhood obesity affects children exactly like obesity affects adults. Both obese children and adults have a higher chance of developing hypertension, high cholesterol, low self-esteem, asthma, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes and even some forms of cancer.

Here are some interesting facts about childhood obesity.

1. Both adults and children with lower education and income levels are more likely to become overweight or obese.

2. Children that have overweight or obese parents are more likely to be overweight or obese as well.

3. Children that were not breastfeed have higher risk of becoming obese children and adults.

4. Children watch about 10 to 20 food and drink commercials per day.

5. In the United States alone, food and beverage companies spend millions of dollars marketing their products to children. Unfortunately, many of these products are extremely high in sugar, fat and calories.

6. Obese children have a higher risk of dying prematurely than children of normal weight

7. Young female children that have physically inactive mothers are more likely to be sedentary and ultimately become overweight.

8. Statistics show that children and teens that spend more than 4 hours per day watching television or on computer are more likely to become overweight or obese.

In today’s economic times, most households have both parents working outside the home. Unfortunately this situation leaves children at home alone watching television or surfing the internet for hours where they are inundated with advertisement after advertisement for tasty but unhealthy treats and snacks. As these children begin to gain weight, some are ridiculed and bullied which can lead to depression and low self-esteem. With depression and low self-esteem, children can develop even more weight and health problems.

Parents of children that have a higher risk for obesity should be mindful of their child’s diet and exercise routine. These statistics do not mean a child is destined to become overweight or obese. It simply means that they have a higher chance. If both you and your child work hard and stay on top of your child’s diet, exercise and health, you can both break the cycle of obesity.

I’m Deborah Susan, a dietician and personal trainer specializing in nutrition and physical fitness for diabetics. I’ve written over three dozen blogs covering various aspects of diabetes including symptoms, monitoring, explaining glycaemic index, carbohydrate counting, and correlation between body weight, lifestyle and diabetes and so on.

The other day one of my clients walked into my clinic with a half smoked cigarette in his hand. He put it out as he walked in but I used the opportunity to talk to him about the effect of cigarette smoke on his family members. He said he smokes inside the house only during winter. During other times of year he smokes a single cigarette after dinner while relaxing in the porch. “What about other family members?” I asked. “Well, we all sit in the porch and discuss something or the other” he admitted sheepishly.

The problem with cigarette smoke is that it induces type 2 diabetes for the smoker as well as those around him. More the smoke greater the risk and this not mere hearsay; research carried out by various government and non-government agencies is quite conclusive, has been well established and has not been disputed even by the cigarette manufacturers. Obviously, due the volume of cigarette smoke entering the lungs, the cigarette smokers are first to get diabetes type II and people inhaling secondhand smoke are next in line.

In the case of women, cigarette smoke presents an even bigger problem. Not only can the smoke induce diabetes, it (diabetes) can also be passed on to any unborn or future child.

For those who quit smoking cigarettes, the probability of getting diabetes is only slightly reduced. The only real solution is to not smoke at all and to avoid second hand smoke effects to whatever extent possible. If you have just started smoking then quit now before your internal organs are permanently impaired. This is not to say that people who have been smoking for many years should not quit. The earlier you quit the less damage your internal organs suffer.

Those who smoke, especially if you smoke in excess of 2 packs of cigarettes a day, and have been doing so for more than a few years, the chances are you will be insulin resistant. Research has also proved conclusively that the risk of diabetes increases with every year you spend smoking or inhaling 2nd hand smoke. And here’s the final nail in the coffin for cigarette smoke inhalers: you have an increased risk of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy.

Patients suffering from Diabetes Type II who are or were heavy smokers, usually also suffer from macrovascular complications, peripheral vascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Also, achieving glycemic control in smokers or ex-smokers suffering from diabetes is always a challenge and requires consultation of senior doctors.

At the end of my short lecture, he said “if I’m certain to get diabetes, what does it matter if I smoke or not?”

Unfortunately it does matter – smoking continues to degrade your internal organs and in the process creates further unnecessary complications. Imagine tobacco and diabetes in combination with lung or throat cancer – do you really want that kind of complication?

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