What is Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is a serious health condition characterised by excessive body fat levels that are significantly above what is considered healthy for a child's age. This condition can result from genetic, behavioural and environmental factors, including poor diet and inactivity. Obesity in childhood raises the child’s risk of developing serious health issues like diabetes and heart disease. Early intervention with improved nutrition and increased physical activity is key to managing and preventing obesity.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Obesity in children can be determined by the child’s doctor through the method below:
The most commonly used measure for overweight and obesity is the Body Mass Index (BMI) - a simple index to classify overweight and obesity. It is defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters (kg/m2)
Your child’s doctor will use the WHO growth charts as a reference to figure out whether your child’s BMI is within normal limit, overweight or obesity
