Our society is obsessed with looks and experiences. Whether it is a child or an adult, people hardly care about the impact of their words while passing mean comments on someone’s body weight. But, obesity has a lot more to do than just being a topic for public embarrassment. In medical terms, obesity is a health condition that is a breeding ground for other health complications.
Obesity has become a growing concern among teenagers these days. When teens get obese, a complex interplay of physiological and physical consequences unfolds, affecting their social and personal lives intensively. Understanding the effects of obesity on teens is important in addressing the concern effectively and promoting healthier lifestyles for the younger generation.
What Are The Causes Of Obesity In Teens?
When parents find their little ones struggling with obesity, they become baffled as to why this notorious disease struck them in the first place. The reasons behind obesity can be multifaceted and vary from teen to teen. However, there are some common issues that can perpetuate weight gain in kids.
- Genetics – It is an uncontrollable factor that influences a teen’s predisposition to obesity. If obesity runs in your family, your kid might start exhibiting its early signs.
- Poor nutrition – If your kid does not have a balanced diet with adequate vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbs, and healthy fats, it might affect his/her body weight.
- Unlimited snacking – Eating chips, processed foods, and junk items and drinking sweetened soda can amount to weight gain in kids.
- Sedentary lifestyle – Physical activity plays a vital role in the lifestyle of teens. If they are always in front of the screens, they stand a higher chance of getting obese.
- Emotional factors – If your kid is not mentally well and has a poor coping mechanism, it can contribute to emotional eating and an inactive lifestyle.
What Is The Impact Of Obesity On A Teen’s Physical Health?
Obesity is a filthy disease that can have an adverse effect on the physical health of teens.
- Diabetes – Excess storage of body fat can enhance insulin resistance in the body which can lead to uncontrollable blood sugar levels.
- Fatty liver disease – If visceral fat surrounds your liver, it can lead to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease characterized by high cholesterol levels and liver inflammation.
- Sleep apnea – Obesity can also worsen your sleep by inducing a condition called sleep apnea in which your breathing stops for alternative periods during your sleep leading to lethargy the next day.
- Joint health issues – Body fat inserts pressure on your joints and reduces their movement to a great extent.
- High blood pressure – Obesity results in hypertension, the number one contributor to high blood pressure and eventual heart problems.
What Is The Impact Of Obesity On A Teen’s Emotional Health?
There are unfavorable consequences of obesity on the emotional health of teens.
- Low self-confidence – When teens become obese, they become hypervigilant about their looks. At this nascent stage of life, they associate their social standing with their outward appearance.
- Lack of interest in social outings – To avoid being body-shamed, kids try to skip social get-togethers with family members and friends.
- Mental health problems – Obesity can burden teens emotionally. They are not adept at handling complex emotions and this gives rise to issues like depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
How To Manage Obesity In Teens?
Once you determine the root cause of obesity in teens and how it impacts their emotional and physical health, you have to teach them how to overcome obesity obstacles with grit to embark on a healthier path in life. We have enlisted various practical and effective ways that can assist teens in losing weight healthily.
- Increase physical activity like walking, running, and swimming
- Encourage them to play outdoors with their friends
- Give them a nutritious and balanced diet with lots of protein
- Get them to practice portion control
- Limit their screen time to break the cycle of sluggishness
- Support a positive body image to let your kids you that you are with them throughout the process
Read More: How Nutrition Affects Teen Mental Health? All You Need To Know!
Anything that happens in adolescence automatically calls for a sensitive approach. More than the teens, it is up to the parents how they handle their kids and pull them out of obesity.
