This document discusses childhood obesity, including its definition, causes, effects, treatments, and prevention. Some key points include: childhood obesity is defined as being above normal weight for one's age and height; its causes include unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity, and sedentary lifestyles involving excessive screen time; effects can include health issues like diabetes, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems; treatments involve increasing physical activity, improving diet, and controlling portion sizes; prevention methods advocate healthy eating, limiting screen time, and getting daily exercise.

1. Kathy Breslin

2.  Definition
 Facts
 Causes
 Effects
 Treatment
 Prevention

3.  ‘Childhood obesity is a serious medical
condition that affects children and
adolescents. It occurs when a child is well
above the normal weight for his or her age
and height’ (Mayo Clinic, 2014).

4.  One in four Irish three year olds
overweight/obese (Growing Up in Ireland,
2011).
 Majority of Irish children not getting
recommended 60 minutes of physical activity
daily (SafeFood.eu, 2014).
 Worldwide, ‘42 million children under the
age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2013 ’
(World Health Organization [sic], 2014).

5.  Billboards and television advertisements
about childhood obesity on the increase.
Irish television advert (YouTube.com, 2014).
Australian television advert (YouTube.com,
2014).

6.  Food Choice: High fat and calorific meals can
increase the weight of a child. Unhealthy
snacks between meals can contribute to the
weight gain of the child (Better Health
Channel, 2014).
 According to the World Health Organization
[sic] (2014), the primary ‘cause of childhood
overweight and obesity is an energy
imbalance between calories consumed and
calories expended’. In order to maintain a
healthy weight, one must burn the same
amount of calories consumed daily.

7.  Reduced physical activity: less children are
physically active. More and more children are
not participating in physical activities such as
football, cycling, swimming and dancing.
 Increased sedentary lifestyle: more children
spend time ‘playing with electronic
devices…than actively playing outside’ (Kids
Health, 2014). Modern technology is
replacing physical activity in childhood.

8.  In rare occurrences, childhood obesity is
caused by genetics. Generally, ‘a medical
cause for being overweight or obese is the
exception in children’ (Patient.co.uk, 2014).
 Large portion sizes, easily available high
calorific foods and meals and a higher cost of
healthy foods compared to high fat, sugary
and processed foods are all factors leading to
childhood obesity (Centers [sic] for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2014).

9.  Overweight or obese children may have
‘health problems such as high cholesterol
and high blood pressure’ (The Child Study
Center [sic], 2014).
 Type 2 diabetes ‘has increased dramatically
in overweight children and adolescents’.
Once a problem associated only with adults,
it is now too prevalent among children. (The
Child Study Center [sic], 2014).

10.  Overweight/obese girls may begin puberty
earlier than expected: ‘Being obese can create
hormone imbalances’ in the child (Mayo Clinic,
2014). ‘These imbalances can cause puberty to
start earlier than expected’ (Mayo Clinic, 2014).
 Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: This is ‘a serious,
potentially life-threatening breathing disorder
characterized by brief interruptions of breathing
during sleep. Over a long period of time, this can
lead to heart failure’ (Benioff Children’s Hospital
San Francisco, 2014).
 Childhood obesity can lead to obesity in
adulthood if the diet and sedentary lifestyle of
the child does not change (Benioff Children’s
Hospital San Francisco, 2014).

11.  Low self-esteem in children: Children may bully
others because of their weight/size. This can
result in low ‘self esteem’ and/or ‘depression’ in
overweight or obese children (Mayo Clinic,
2014).
 Society and the media bombard girls, in
particular, with the pressure to be slim. This can
result in girls ‘developing eating disordered
behaviors [sic]’ such as extreme dieting and
exercising (The Child Study Center [sic], 2014).
 For boys, society and media emphasise the
importance of ‘a muscular, ‘’buff’’ body’ which
can lead to ‘disordered eating’ also (The Child
Study Center [sic], 2014).

12.  Increase in physical activity: Incorporate
more physical activity into the day, for
example, swimming, running, dancing and
cycling. Activities such as these throughout
the day can help achieve the recommended
60 minutes of physical activity a child needs
daily (Mayo Clinic, 2014).
 Child participates in activities he/she likes: If
children take part in activities they enjoy
they are more likely to continue doing them
(Mayo Clinic, 2014).

13.  Decrease/omission of sedentary lifestyle:
reduce time spent using the iPad, laptop and
television. This time can be spent on physical
activity.
 Replace high calorific and sugary foods with
healthy and nutritious meals (National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute, 2012).
 Portion size: Many parents give their children
adult portion sizes. Reducing portion sizes
given to overweight and obese children can
help treat childhood obesity (Mayo Clinic,
2014).

14.  Ensure that children get physical activity, for
example, playing in the outdoor area –
running, jumping, walking, cycling.
Encourage the children to take part in
outdoor games such as these. Children can
be physically active indoors also, for
example, dancing. Vary physical activities
between the outdoors and indoors.
 Facilitate and encourage the child to
participate in physical activities he/she likes,
for example, dancing or football. The child
may be more likely to participate in
activities he/she likes.

15.  Work as a team with the parent/guardian to
provide the child with nutritious and healthy
meals in the early years setting.
 Work together with the parent/guardian to
increase the physical activity of the child.
 Provide information and advice on how to treat
childhood obesity to the parent/guardian.
 In a friendly and open manner, emphasise to
children the importance of healthy eating and
exercise. Teach the importance of it in different
ways using games, story books and props, for
example, puppets.

16.  Follow a plan to consume healthy and nutritious
meals only such as fruit, vegetables, ‘lean meats’ and
‘lots of water’ (Centers [sic] for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2011).
 Portion size: ‘Children’s portion sizes should be
smaller than those for adults’ (National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute, 2012). Ensure that the portion
sizes the child takes are appropriate for his/her age
and height.
 Limited time on modern technology: have a time
limit on the use of ‘gadgets’ such as laptops and the
television (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,
2012).
 Ensure that children get the recommended 60
minutes of physical activity daily (World Health
Organization [sic], 2014).

17.  Provide healthy meals: provide children with
healthy, nutritious meals and snacks within
the early years setting.
 Control portion size: ensure that children are
given adequate portion sizes for their height
and age.
 Ensure that children are physically active
both indoors and outdoors daily.

18.  Aboutourkids.org. (2014). Childhood Obesity: The Effects on
Physical and Mental Health, [online], available:
http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/childhood_obesity_effects
_physical_mental_health [accessed 01 November, 2014].
 Anthony Kalamut. (2011). ‘Break the Habit’ – Childhood Obesity
Ad Australia, [video online], available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82kYQ7j7X2s [accessed 31
October, 2014].
 Better Health Channel. (2014). Obesity in children – causes,
[online], available:
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/page
s/Obesity_in_children?open [accessed 31 October, 2014].
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Tips for
Parents – Ideas to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight,
[online], available:
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/children/index.html#preven
tion [accessed 01 November, 2014].

19.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Overweight
and Obesity A Growing Problem, [online], available:
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/problem.html [accessed
31 October, 2014].
 Growingup.ie. (2011). Growing Up in Ireland Key Findings: Infant
Cohort (at 3 years), [online], available:
http://www.growingup.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Co
nference/2011/Growing_Up_in_Ireland_-_The_Health_of_3-Year-
Olds.pdf [accessed 31 October, 2014].
 KidsHealth.org. (2014). Causes of Overweight, [online],
available:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/overweight_obesity.
html#a_Causes_of_Overweight [accessed 31 October, 2014].
 Mayo Clinic. (2014). Diseases and Conditions Childhood obesity
Complications, [online], available:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-
obesity/basics/complications/con-20027428 [accessed 01
November, 2014].

20.  Mayo Clinic. (2014). Diseases and Conditions Childhood obesity
Definition, [online], available:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-
obesity/basics/definition/con-20027428 [accessed 31 October,
2014].
 Mayo Clinic. (2014). Diseases and Conditions Childhood obesity
Treatments and drugs, [online], available:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-
obesity/basics/treatment/con-20027428 [accessed 01 November,
2014].
 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2012). How Are
Overweight and Obesity Treated?, [online], available:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-
topics/topics/obe/treatment.html [accessed 01 November,
2014].
 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. (2012). How Can
Overweight and Obesity Be Prevented?, [online], available:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-
topics/topics/obe/prevention.html [accessed 01 November,
2014].

21.  Patient.co.uk. (2014). Obesity and Overweight in Children,
[online], available: http://www.patient.co.uk/health/obesity-
and-overweight-in-children [accessed 31 October, 2014].
 SafeFood.eu. (2014). Physical Activity in Children, [online],
available: http://safefood.eu/Childhood-Obesity/Facts.aspx
[accessed 31 October, 2014].
 SafeFoodTV. (2014). Let’s take on Childhood Obesity – TV Ad –
Treats, [video online], available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pNqV7gq61M [accessed 31
October, 2014].
 University of California San Francisco. (2014). Health Risks of
Overweight Children, [online],
http://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/education/health_risks_for
_overweight_children/ [accessed 01 November, 2014].

22.  World Health Organization. (2014). Obesity and overweight,
[online], available:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/
[accessed 31 October, 2014].
 World Health Organization. (2014). What can be done to fight the
childhood obesity epidemic?, [online], available:
http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood_what_can_b
e_done/en/ [accessed 01 November, 2014].

23.  Any questions?