Medical Insurance and Health Care

Today it is hard to find anyone who has not heard something about childhood obesity. We talk about childhood obesity in school, in the news, radio programs, and internet pages. Even the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, is leading a national campaign to combat this scourge that affects 1 in 3 children in the United States.

The sad thing is that childhood obesity has taken advantage impressive, but does not mean you have won the battle. Childhood obesity is not alone, and therefore it is necessary to attack it from childhood. This is not a problem of aesthetics or vanity. It is a health problem that affects the entire body. Childhood obesity is accompanied by a number of friends who do not help the health of your children. It is because that diseases were associated in the past mostly in adults, such as elevated triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood, are now being diagnosed frequently in obese children.

Overweight and obesity
Before continuing with this issue know: What is the difference between obesity and overweight? Did you doubt for a moment? I know it may confuse the two concepts. Overweight refers to someone who weighs a lot, while obesity speaks of excess fat. Pediatricians use height and weight to calculate body mass index (BMI) based on a formula. Then use a percentile tables (growth) that are specific for age and sex of the tiny and thus determine where you are. These tables have multiple lines. For example, half the children the same age are at the 50th percentile. 25% is above that level and 25% is below that level. The tables refer to 100 healthy children of that age that half are higher and half are lower, and so on. Give a range. The same applies to the weight. When using the table is a line between the heights and weights.
It is said that a child is obese if their body mass index-BMI-(BMI by its acronym in English) if you are in the 95 percentile or more, and are overweight if your BMI reaches the 85 percentile, but less 95. On the other hand, a child is at a normal weight if their BMI is between 5 and 85 percentiles. And they weigh less than normal if their BMI is less than 5 percentile.

Use of body mass index is a good measure though, is not perfect, occasionally, can be misleading because it does not measure directly the body fat. With the results of body mass index, a muscular person may appear to be overweight, without this meaning that it is much less obese. This means that a heavy person, but does not mean you have high levels of fat in your body. In cases where there was doubt, the doctor may perform other studies such as measurement of skinfolds, among others.

Do not forget that obesity causes serious health problems
It is important to know that obesity only causes problems. No benefits are associated with childhood obesity, and therefore must fight as soon as possible. Among other things, can cause child obesity: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. For example, there are places like the U.S. where 20% of children have bad cholesterol (LDL) cholesterol. Must consider not only the fat accumulates in the thick of the body but inside the arteries. This can lead to serious cardiovascular problems.

Cholesterol and obesity: a couple dangerous
If parents understand that overweight child may develop high levels of bad cholesterol, probably would take immediate action. What happens is that many of them, and maybe this is your case, not sure what cholesterol is and why it is detrimental to the health of their children.

Cholesterol is a substance produced by the liver and have a texture very similar to wax. This substance in excess accumulates in the walls of arteries hindering your blood circulation, and in some cases completely blocking. Your body makes enough cholesterol for processes where required. Your child’s liver can produce up to 1,000 milligrams of cholesterol per day in normal conditions. Can you imagine if you add to ice cream, sugary drinks, and burgers with cheese and bacon (bacon)? All this without counting the hours that your child stays in front of the TV or computer, without any physical activity a day.

Do not wait for symptoms to appear to let you know about the elevated levels of cholesterol, and cholesterol, for a long time, it is a silent enemy. Therefore, parents are alert to the levels of fat in the blood of their sons. If you take your child to regular checkups you can realize the increases and reductions of blood cholesterol.

If your child suffers from childhood obesity, act promptly. Do not wait for the pounds and the further accumulation of fat. Elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood can cause serious problems with your heart and your cardiovascular system later. You can and should start this battle. Work hard with your children to live a healthy diet, to exercise and then you can say goodbye to childhood obesity.