Do I have a weight problem?

We enjoy having chocolates, ice cream and junk food. When we are busy having our favorite food we tend to forget about everything else. We even forget when to stop eating and how much we should or shouldn’t eat. For instance if we love sweets… we just keep popping in sweets into our mouth and yet we feel like we can still have more! We might enjoy doing that but afterwards we see the after-effects when our stomach feels packed and we find it difficult to move or even sleep!

Eating too much can cause a problem known as obesity. Obesity is a term used to describe body weight that is more than what is considered ‘healthy’. How can we find out if we are obese or not? This is done by finding a person's body mass index (BMI) which is considered the most accurate measurement of body fat. The BMI estimates how much our body should weigh, based on our height. Here are how we can calculate it:

 Multiply your weight in pounds by 703.

 Divide that answer by your height in inches.

 Divide that answer by your height in inches again.

For example, a woman who weighs 270 pounds and is 68 inches tall has a BMI of 41.0. Adults who have BMI between 25 and 29.9 are considered overweight. Those with a BMI of more than 30 are considered obese. Overweight adults are at risk for a number of health problems including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure stroke, and some forms of cancer.

If you think that obesity is a problem that only adults face, then this will shock you. The percentage of children who are overweight has doubled in the last 20 years. The percentage of adolescents who are obese has tripled in the last 20 years. So lets find out what causes obesity. When we take in more calories than we use up or burn it leads to our being overweight and eventually obese. Our bodies store the unused calories as fat.

Children and teenagers who are obese have been found to have type 2 diabetes, which is also known as adult-onset diabetes. They also have high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, which are risk factors that can lead to heart disease. They suffer from problems in their sleep such as ‘sleep apnea’ also known as interrupted breathing while sleeping. At times this can affect their learning and memory too. Obese children also have a high incidence of orthopedic problems, liver disease, and asthma. Overweight teenagers have a 70 percent chance of becoming obese adults.

Why do children and teenagers become obese? It can be due to a variety of reasons. The most common causes are genetic factors, a lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns or a combination of these factors. In rare cases, a medical problem, such as an endocrine disorder may cause a child to become overweight. A doctor can perform a careful physical exam and some blood tests to rule out this type of problem.

Genetic factors play an important role in obesity since there are children whose parents or brothers or sisters are overweight. Such children have a much higher risk of becoming overweight themselves. Though weight problems in the family can lead to obesity but it is not necessary that all the children should have this problem. However usually since a family shares eating and activity habits they end up having similar weight problems.

As children we can ensure that our weight is not more by monitoring our health and trying to be physically more active. The food we eat, our lack of playing and running around, our watching too much of television and playing sedentary games such as computer and video games too cause us to become obese faster.

If you think that you have a weight problem you could talk to your parents and go to see a doctor. The doctor is the best person to determine whether you have a weight problem or not. The doctors will measure your weight and height to determine if your weight is within the healthy range. The doctor will also consider your age and growth patterns to determine whether you are overweight or not. If your BMI is greater than 95% of other children of the same age and gender, you would be considered to be overweight.

What should you do if you find that you are overweight? Firstly, don’t worry! No matter what your weight is - it is alright. If you worry about it you will simply make yourself feel worse. It would be a good idea if you find a person you can trust and talk to them about how you feel. Talking to someone would help you feel better. Tell your parents about your concerns.

Check your family eating habits to see if it is the cause of your weight problem. If you find that you don’t have regular physical activity then this is the best time for you plan it some activities for yourself. You could start out with fun activities that mix exercise with enjoyment such as walking, dancing, biking or swimming. When you combine regular activities with healthy eating it is the most efficient and healthy way to control your weight. You could also cut down on the amount of time you spend watching TV and instead go for a walk.

Cut down the amount of sweets or foods that have more fat. Reduce your intake of high-calorie soft drinks and foods such as candy, deserts and salty snacks such as potato chips and French fries. It is alright if you have some but try not to have more. Be health-conscious and eat more healthy food. Try not eat food while watching TV since you wont be aware of how much you are really eating and end up over-eating.

If you need help you could ask your parents and see a doctor or a counselor to help you with the problems you face. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone needs help at sometime or another… even your parents and other elders have at some time or another needed help. Taking a step early enough will help you bring your weight to the healthy level sooner. Remember that making healthy changes to your eating and activity habits will help you be healthy for the rest of your life.