As the twenty-first century begins, obesity is a major concern in the world of medicine. The current adult generation has witnessed the introduction of satellite television, video games and home computers as a result we have responded by becoming increasingly more sedentary and committed to sitting in front of the different electronic devices.

As the children of the twenty-first century continue to grow, it is becoming increasingly alarming as the number of obese children continues to climb. For the first time in history, large numbers of children are becoming morbidly obese before reaching adulthood. Scientists worldwide are searching for the causes of childhood obesity in an effort to stop the cycle.

Today, more than six million adults are technically morbidly obese. Morbidly obese individuals weigh one-hundred pounds or more over their medically defined ideal weight. The percentage of children that are overweight had tripled since the 1980s and is continuing to climb at an alarming rate. As the government and medical world search for causes of childhood obesity, one thing is certain, the health ramifications for these overweight children will result in child diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure and countless other illness prior to reaching adulthood.

Causes Of Childhood Obesity Easier To Recognize Than Once Thought

The first recognized cause of childhood obesity is genetics. Although with the sudden increase in childhood obesity and the rapid speed in which it has increased, genetics cannot be blamed for the entire situation. If genetics were the total reason for the increase in weight gain through-out the population, the increase would have been slower and the increased numbers would have been slowly documented through history. Genetics cannot be the cause for the sudden jump that has been observed in the recent decades.

While many can argue that genetics is a main cause of childhood obesity, it is important to note that while genes are one shared family classification, there are other more immediate causes that might be identified. Family lifestyle, dietary practices, physical attitude and attitude toward physical exercise are all learned habits and behaviors within a family group.

For an obese child raised in an athletic family that consumed a healthy daily diet, it would be very easy to assume that family genetics could be a cause for obesity. If after discussing and reviewing dietary practices, family lifestyle and family genetics it was proven that the child made healthy choices and practices and still struggles with a weight issue, it would be a very easy argument that the child was obese based upon the data gathered during the interviews and observations.

However, the opposite is also true. If a child is raised in a lethargic, non-physically active family with poor eating habits and many fast-food visits for meals, it would prove that it is more the choices and influence of the family practices than the genetics of the family tree.

Bookmark to: