Obesity today is an epidemic. In today's developed and developing countries, more and more children are facing the problem as both working parents depent too much on fast food and processed food as a lack of time prevents them from preparing good nutritious and wholesome food.

Why do children become fat?
* Inherited: Pradder Willi Syndrome, Cushing Syndrome, Hormonal disorder (insulin, Hypothalamic or pituitary)
* Eating habits: Children are thriving on foods high in saturated and transfatty fats such magarine, red meat, fried food and fast food
* Lack of exercise: Children prefer to spend hours in front of the television or computer rather than engage in robust activities like games eg swimming

Assessment of Obesity
* Body Mass Index (BMI)
* Skin fold thickness over the triceps or subscpular region

Complication and Outcome of Childhood Obesity

The body stores new fat by increasing the number of fat cells or by increasing the size of fat cells. It is important to control childhood obesity since new fat cells are primarily formed during childhood years and adding extra fat cells makes obesity more difficult to fight as there is always a potential to grow even bigger. The outcomes are:

* Social embarrassment - unhappiness in terms of self image & nasty comments from others
* Higher incidences of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and osteoarthritis

Obesity Management
* Offer healthful snack alternatives (eg. fresh fruits instead of fried chips)
*Teach moderation. Take one cookie instead of five
* Change habits. Switching from full cream to skim milk (older children)
* Choose grilled, steamed or microwave cooked instead of food that are high in fat and calories
* Use less high fat, high calorie and toppings such as mayonnaise
* Exercise and get your child moving. 30 minutes of vigorous exercise everyday
* Set an example. Are you exercising and eating right? Children do what they see and not do as they are told
* Start early. About 40% of overweight children stay fat as adults. The ratio is 75% for adolescents