Obesity: A burning challenge among adolescents

Obesity, a growing health problem worldwide, is often misunderstood or treatment the wrong way. Today, on World Anti-Obesity day, November 26, we look at rising concern about obesity and how they can be tackled.

Adolescence is the period of development during which the individual makes the transition from childhood, usually between 13 and 20 years. The term adolescent usually refers to psychological maturation of the individual, whereas puberty result in changes in the appearance in the young person, and mental development result in the ability to hypothesize and deal with abstractions. Adjustments and adaptations are needed to cope with these simultaneous changes and the attempt to establish a mature sense of identity.

Adolescents are sensitive about psychological changes that make them difficult from pears. For this reason they are generally interested in the normal pattern of growth curves. For maintaining persol growth curves sometimes have seen number of eating disorders eg. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa among adolescents especially in adolescent girls. There are many factors influencing in normal pattern of growth curve, eg food pattern, eating habits, attitudes, health beliefs and socioeconomic and psychological factors. Weight extremes resulting from excessive or idequate calorie intake are common during the adolescent period.

Overweight and obesity are defined as,” abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health”. According to WHO classification, Overweight: >+1SD (equivalent to BMI 25 kg/m2 at 19 years)

Obesity: >+2SD (equivalent to BMI 30 kg/m2 at 19 years)

Obesity in children and adolescents is gradually becoming a major public health problem in many developing countries, including India. The problem of obesity is increasing in children and adolescents in urban and semi-urban India. In urban India adolescents, studies have shown a prevalence of 5%-15% and rising.

Obesity is recognized by the WHO as an emerging epidemic with significant health risks. ‘One-half of obese school children become obese adults. Worldwide obesity has more than doubled between 1980 and 2014. In 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18years and older were overweight. Of these over 600 million were obese.

Adolescent obesity is a strong predictor of adult obesity, and adult obesity has been associated with cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, psychological problem like depression, worthless ete. Almost 50% obese children become obese adolescent, and almost 80% of them become obese adults.  

Obesity can be caused due to complex reasons including biological, genetics, cultural and behavioral factors. The important cause of obesity in adolescence are overeating, family history, bad eating habits, little or no exercise, medical illness, low self-esteem, medications, depression, emotiol problems, stressful life and family problem.

Symptoms of Obesity

The following are most common symptoms that indicate an adolescent is obese. However each adolescent may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include: Facial features often appear disproportiote, Adiposity (fat cells) in the breast region in boys, Large abdomen, increases adiposity in the upper arms and thighs and genu valgum (knock kneed).

Obesity also effect on social skills and emotiol well-being among adolescence. Obese adolescent generally displayed more emotiol difficulties than non-obese counterparts and obese girls compare ably also displayed poorer social skill than obese boys.

The prevalence of obesity and overweight is increasing day by day among children and adolescents in urban and semi urban India. In urban India adolescents, studies have shown a prevalence of 5-15% and rising.

A cross-sectiol survey study was carried out in the school/junior colleges in Guwahati metro and data were collected through a measurement and structured questionire with the consent. From BMI calculation, it was found that about 10% of adolescents were obese in selected schools/junior colleges in Guwahati metro. This study revealed that prevalence of obesity is much higher in private educatiol institution compare to government. The study suggested that pretal obesity is highly influencing risk factor of adolescent obesity. Apart from that many factors like eating habits, physical ictivity, and time spent for T.V viewing have remarkable effect on prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents.

Magement of obesity

The magement of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents requires a multidiscipliry approach with a holistic outlook. The team should include a pediatric physician, nurse practitioner, dietician, physical instructors, behavioral therapist and a social worker in addition to a motivated team of parents, caretakers, teachers and policy makers.

Magement of obesity in children and adolescents differs from magement in adults.  

 Lifestyles and behaviors are established at a young age. It is important for parents and children to remain educated and focused on making long-term healthy lifestyle choices.  The prevention strategy for obesity should start as early as newborn period. The strategies may be attempted at the family, school and community.