Teenage eating 101: Obesity

Obesity is an excessive accumulation of body fat such that individuals are at least 20 percent heavier than their ideal body weight.. Obesity is a common eating disorder associated with adolescence and is on the rise in teenage girls in particular.

Obesity is dangerous to us in many ways as it can weaken physical health and well-being, and can drastically shorten life expectancy. It can also lead to social disabilities and unhappiness, which may cause stress and even mental illness. These feelings can be escalated in teenagers due to additional stress factors such as peer pressure, exams, social life and many other factors. Studies suggest that overweight children are more likely to be involved in bullying than normal-weight children are, both as victims and as perpetrators of teasing, name-calling and physical bullying.

Teenage obesity is becoming a problem that some refer to as a epidemic and it is only on the increase. Personally I think it is down to the ever increasing technology such as computers, iPhones, blackberries, combined with the convenience of the ever growing fast good industry. Teenage obesity figures for the further are only getting worse, and without a solution or governmental intervention the figures are not going to improve!

High calorie, processed, packaged food combined with long periods of inactivity are just two things that are leading to rising levels of obesity. Additionally other eating disorders such as binging are contributing to an increase in obesity as a way to relieve the symptoms of bullying ( which is only getting worse, as technology now means that cuber bullying can carry on whilst at home).

Fast food and long periods of inactivity are mainly to blame for the rapid increase in teen obesity. It is not that the teenagers are not being completely inactive but they are not doing the physical activity that is required for them to burn the excessive amount of calorie intake that they have each day. Eventually this means that the excess weight will continue to increase and these teenagers will get even bigger as they reach adulthood. The causes of teen obesity really revolve around the lack of exercise and physical activity that is required by the average person to maintain a healthy life style.

UK obesity rates have more than doubled in the last 25 years; nearly a quarter of men (24%) and women (25%) are obese. In 2008, 16.8% of boys aged 2 to 15, and 15.2% of girls were classed as obese; an increase from 11.1% and 12.2% respectively in 1995

The effects that teen obesity has on health can begin during the teen years and extend throughout a lifetime if not checked. Here are some of the common health conditions:

Type 2 diabetes

Asthma

Sleep problems, including sleep apnea

Orthopedic (bone) problems due to an inability of the developing bones to support the excess weight

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Heart disease

Negative body image