Childhood obesity: a growing epidemic | Chronic

In Argentina, one in five children under five are obese and four in ten teens are overweight and obese, a trend that increases over time. Specialists from the Argentine Society of Pediatrics (SAP) have expressed concern over the increase in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in the country, while stressing the need to generate interventions as soon as possible. birth to fight the progress of this disease. "We must take into account that Argentina has the second highest rate of overweight among children under five years of Latin America and the Caribbean, with an infant mortality rate of 9%. , 9%, according to the Panorama of Food and Nutrition Security recently prepared by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and with the Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO), "detailed pediatrician Stella Maris Gil president of SAP.

Meanwhile, among teens aged 13 to 15, overweight increased by 17% between 2007 and 2012, affecting nearly one in three children, consistent with the fact that the overall level of Overweight from 1975 to today has almost tripled

Although overweight itself is a problem, it can become the trigger for other difficulties or illnesses for the patient. Excess weight in children can have an impact on their future because in adulthood, overweight increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, arteriosclerosis and d & # 39; hypertension.

It also contributes to the development of lipid disorders, such as the increase of "bad" cholesterol (LDL), the decrease of "good" cholesterol (HDL) and the increase of triglycerides; increases the possibility of developing type 2 diabetes, hormonal imbalances that in women can affect fertility, disorders such as osteoarthritis and the risk of suffering from certain types of cancer such as the endometrium, bad, colon, liver and kidneys. On the other hand, in addition to directly affecting the physical, childhood obesity also helps to trigger psychological, psychiatric and social problems. Children with obesity have higher rates of depression, lower self-esteem, and are more likely to suffer from bullying, and some research has shown that they are more likely to be intimate. As adults, they have fewer opportunities to find a job. warned the pediatrician Débora Setton

For all this, from the SAP, they urged to fight overweight and obesity, initially promoting adequate weight control in Pregnant women and then the generation of healthy habits from early childhood.