Teens Obesity in Simple Words

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Obesity is a condition in which a person has too much body fat, which can lead to health problems. Doctors often use the term Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine whether teenagers might be obese. BMI is determined by using an individual's weight and height. Regarding the young population, if a teen's BMI is in the 95th percentile or higher compared to other teens of the same age and sex, it might reflect obesity.

 

How Common is Obesity Among Teenagers?

The prevalence of obesity varies from Nation to Nation. For example, according to a recent study, In the United States, about 21% of teenagers aged 12 to 17 are considered obese. If a teen is obese, there's a strong chance they will remain obese as adults.

 

How is Obesity Treated?

Although early childhood dietary habits and lifestyle contribute to obesity, particularly obesity control in teenagers involves several interventions and a few prominent ones are:

Lifestyle Changes:

Lifestyle changes include improving diet and increasing physical activity.

Medications:

Besides Orlistat (tetrahydrolipstatin) FDA is in the process of approving new medications to help treat obesity among teens.

Surgery:

In some cases, doctors may recommend surgery to help with weight loss. Metabolic and bariatric surgery recognize that these surgeries do more than reduce weight—they also affect the body's metabolism.

 

Important to note here is that treatment approaches for teens are different from those for younger children or adults because teenagers are going through puberty and are becoming more independent, which impacts how they manage their health.

 

What Causes Obesity in Teenagers?

Scientific research has proved that several factors can increase the risk of obesity in teens:

Genetics and Genes:

If a teen's parents are obese, there's a higher chance the teen might be obese too. Studies have shown that genetics play a significant role, with many genes contributing to the risk of obesity.

Lifestyle Habits:

Spending more time on screens (like watching TV or using a phone) and not getting enough sleep can raise the risk of obesity. Scientific studies show that teens who spend over two hours daily on recreational screen time have a higher chance of being overweight. Conversely, getting more sleep reduces the risk of obesity through better metabolic activities.

Environmental and Social Factors:

Poverty and living in environments with easy access to unhealthy foods (like fast food and sugary drinks) but limited opportunities for physical activity can increase obesity risk. Stressful family situations, such as divorce or substance abuse among parents and family members, can also contribute.

The Impact of Childhood Family Experiences:

Adverse childhood experiences, like abuse or a parent's incarceration, can increase the risk of obesity later in life. Teens who experience four or more of these adverse events are more likely to become severely obese as adults. Recognizing this impact can help us be more compassionate and aware in our efforts to address teen obesity.

 

In short, adolescent obesity is influenced by genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Understanding these can help develop effective treatments and prevention strategies to manage and reduce teen obesity.

Additional Resources:

Obesity in Adolescents