GI Joe and Obesity

When I was a kid, I loved the GI Joe cartoon. Each episode ended with a self-evident parable (don't stick a fork into a light socket, or it's not a good idea to get into a van with 'Free Candy' painted on the side, etc). With the assistance of a main character, some child would glean one of these kernels of truth and then look into the camera and declare, "And now I know," to which the American Hero would retort, "And knowing is half the battle." End scene; end of the episode.

There is a lot of truth and insight to that phrase. Indeed, knowing what to do is important because a foundation is laid for following through. But, if we are content to simply know what to do but never act on it, we are not only neglecting half the battle, we are losing the war.

Knowing how to spot and diagnose obesity is part of the battle, but we still have a ways to go in claiming victory in the war. Obesity increases the risk for serious health conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol — all once considered exclusively adult diseases. Obese kids also may be prone to low self-esteem that stems from being teased, bullied, or rejected by peers. Younger children deal with self esteem issues in their adolescence that can shape their entire outlook on life. Kids who are unhappy with their weight may be more likely than average-weight kids to:

Develop unhealthy dieting habits and eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

Be more prone to depression.

Be at risk for substance abuse.

Overweight and obese kids are at risk for developing medical problems that affect their present and future health and quality of life, including:

High blood pressure, high cholesterol and abnormal blood lipid levels, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.

Bone and joint problems.

Shortness of breath that makes exercise, sports, or any physical activity more difficult and may aggravate the symptoms or increase the chances of developing asthma
restless or disordered sleep patterns, such as obstructive sleep apnea.

Tendency to mature earlier (overweight kids may be taller and more sexually mature than their peers, raising expectations that they should act as old as they look, not as old as they are; overweight girls may have irregular menstrual cycles and fertility problems in adulthood).

Liver and gall bladder disease.

Cardiovascular risk factors present in childhood (including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes) can lead to serious medical problems like heart disease, heart failure, and stroke as adults. Preventing or treating overweight and obesity in kids may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease as they get older. Next we will examine some common causes contributing to obesity.