COMPLICATIONS OF OBESITY IN CHILDREN
Psychological And Social Alterations
Obesity can have deep repercussions on the psychological development and social adaptation of a child. Around the age of 7, children learn norms of cultural attraction and, according to them, choose their friends, guided principally by physical characteristics.
Obesity can create situation where they are rejected, developing low self-esteem and difficulty in making friends, which can translate into social isolation and suffering of depression with more frequency than other children. They are then converted into less active children and tend to use food as a refuge, worsening and perpetuating their obesity. It has been proven that obese children have a poor self-image and express sensations of inferiority and rejection.
Medical Pathology
The development of obesity from infancy and its persistence until adulthood significantly increases the risk of suffering complications like hypertension, elevation in the levels of cholesterol and resistance to the action of insulin (with and evolution of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes). This implies a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and a reduction of life expectancy, with the majority of cases associated with being sedentary or smoking.
Obesity in the long term can create disorders of the digestive apparatus and of the liver like gallstones and hepatic steatosis, which has been seen in children with severe obesity.
Some obese children have presented with stretch marks, fungal infections in the fold zones and hematomas after small traumas.
The repercussions to pulmonary function from obesity are also significant. Obese children can present with fatigue from moderate physical exercise and respiratory insufficiency as well.
Some of the issues present in children with obesity are constipation, probably in relation to a lack in exercise or a diet scarce in fiber. Very commonly a secondary pathology of osteoarticular problems from having to support excessive weight is found. Obese children are frequently found to have some orthopedic disorders like genu valgum and epiphysiolysis of the femoral head, flat feet, scoliosis, coxa vara and Perthes disease.
Children and adolescents with obesity can present with alterations in their pubertal development:
Early puberty: The majority of children with obesity are found in the 50th percentile of height for their age. A large percentage of these children show early growth, advanced aging and with this, advanced sexual maturation and start to puberty. Some of these cases have a relatively low height measurement when they reach adulthood.
Pseudohypogenitalism: in pubescent males this is the most frequent problem. It is when suprapubic fat overshadows the base of the penis, making it look smaller.
Gynecomastia: this is also a frequent problem in males, due to the accumulation of fat in the mammary region, without the general presence of an increase in glandular tissue.
In girls the appearance of menstrual disorders, is frequent, with a greater incidence of polycystic ovary syndrome.