Could some type of medical condition or illness be causing your child to be obese? Before we can answer that question, the actual definition of childhood obesity needs to be understood. The Mayo Clinic and other respected health organizations define childhood obesity as:
"A serious medical condition that occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height."
The best way to discover whether your child weighs more or less than average is to consult a "BMI percentile calculator for kids". Simply type that term into Google or some other search engine. You will find several free online resources which explain your child's BMI percentile. (ex. A score of 90 or 95 means your child is more overweight than 90% or 95% of all children his age and height, which qualifies for obesity).
If you find that your child is obese, could a medical condition be causing it? A poor diet and lack of exercise can definitely cause obesity in children. Your lifestyle when you are pregnant also directly relates to whether your child will be overweight or not. And while uncommon, some medical conditions and ailments can actually increase your child's chances of becoming obese.
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These Medical Conditions Can Cause Obesity in Children
These are usually linked to genetics and heredity. For instance, hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland is underactive. This means that it does not correctly control metabolism, which can lead to overweight and obesity. A simple thyroid checkup can identify this problem. Prader-Willi syndrome is another genetically linked disorder. This can cause an uncontrollable urge to eat that is created when the brain incorrectly understands when your child's body is hungry or full.
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Cushing's syndrome is a medical condition which is sometimes caused by medications prescribed for asthma sufferers. This disorder means that your body receives too much exposure to the hormone cortisol. This can also come from a biological or genetic problem which causes your adrenal glands to overproduce cortisol. The side effect is weight gain and possibly obesity.
Aside from those few medical conditions, there are not too many more illnesses or diseases which cause childhood obesity that a balanced diet, plenty of water and frequent exercise cannot positively impact. Children in low income neighborhoods and those frequently suffering from stress and anxiety also run a higher risk of obesity than average. Keep your child mentally and physically active, provide a healthy, loving and stress-free environment, and you give him a great opportunity at enjoying a healthy body weight.
