Childhood Obesity and High Cholesterol

Nowadays you know that this is not true. When you see an obese child you recognize that something is wrong with their diet and physical activity. Childhood obesity can go hand in hand with high cholesterol levels in the blood. Keep reading and learn more about childhood obesity and its relationship with cholesterol.

Nowadays it is difficult to find someone who has NOT heard something related to childhood obesity. Children's obesity is discussed in school, in the news, on radio programs, and on the Internet. Even the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, leads a national campaign to combat this scourge that affects 1 of every 3 children in this country.

The sad thing is that childhood obesity has taken an impressive advantage, but it does not mean that it has won the battle. Childhood obesity does not come alone, and that is why it is necessary to attack it from childhood. This is not a problem of aesthetics or vanity. It is a health problem that affects the entire body. Childhood obesity is accompanied by a series of friends that do not help the health of your children. It is due to her that diseases that in the past were associated more than anything in adults, as the elevation of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood, are nowadays being diagnosed frequently in obese children.

Overweight and obesity

Before continuing with this topic you know: What is the difference between obesity and overweight? Did you doubt it for a moment? I know you may confuse both concepts. Overweight refers to someone who weighs a lot, while obesity talks about excess fat. Pediatricians use weight and height to calculate body mass index (BMI) based on formulas. Then they use tables of percentiles (of growth) that are specific to the age and sex of the little one and thus determine where they are. These tables have several lines. For example: half of children of the same age are in the 50th percentile. 25% are above that level and 25% are below that level. The tables refer to 100 healthy boys of that age who are half taller and half are lower, etc. Give a rank. The same happens with the weight. When the table is used there is a consonance between the heights and the weights.

It is said that a child is obese when his body mass index -IMC- (BMI) is at 95 percentiles or more, and that he is overweight if his BMI reaches 85 percentiles, but is less of 95. On the other hand, a child is at a normal weight if his BMI is between the 5th and 85th percentiles. And his weight is less than normal if his BMI does not reach the 5th percentile.

The use of the body mass index, although it is a good measure, is not perfect; occasionally, it can be deceptive since it does not directly measure the fat of the body. With the results of the body mass index, a muscular person can appear to be overweight, without this meaning that he is, and much less obese. This means that you are a heavy person, but it does not mean that you have high levels of fat in your body. In cases where there is doubt, the pediatrician could perform other studies such as the measurement of skin folds, among others.

Do not forget that obesity causes serious health problems

It is important that you know that obesity only causes problems. There are no benefits associated with childhood obesity, and that is why it is necessary to combat it as soon as possible. Among other things, childhood obesity can cause: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension) and elevated levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. For example, there are places like in the United States where 20% of children have high LDL cholesterol. You must consider that fat not only accumulates in the fat of the body but also in the interior of the arteries. This can bring serious cardiovascular problems.

Cholesterol and obesity: a dangerous couple

If parents understood that their obese child could develop high levels of bad cholesterol, they would surely take immediate action. What happens is that many of them, and perhaps this is your case, do not know what cholesterol is and why it is harmful to the health of their children.

Cholesterol is a substance produced by the liver that has a texture very similar to wax. This excess substance accumulates in the walls of your arteries, hindering the circulation of blood, and in some cases blocking it completely. Your body produces enough cholesterol for the processes where it is required. Your child's liver can produce up to 1,000 milligrams of cholesterol a day under normal conditions. Can you imagine if you add ice creams, sugary drinks, and burgers with cheese and bacon (bacon)? All this without counting the hours your child stays in front of the television or computer, without any physical activity a day.

Do not wait for symptoms to appear that let you know about the elevation in cholesterol levels, since cholesterol, for a long time, is a silent enemy. Because of this, parents are not alert to their children's blood fat levels. If you take your child to regular checkups you will be able to realize the increases and reductions of their blood cholesterol.

If your child suffers from childhood obesity, act as soon as possible. Do not wait for pounds and fat to continue to accumulate. High levels of cholesterol in the blood can cause serious problems in your heart and cardiovascular system later. You can and should start this battle. Work hard with your children to have a healthy diet and exercise so you can say goodbye to childhood obesity.