Obesity is one of the biggest problems facing families, but it isn’t just the adults who are overweight. If you follow the Powell Pediatrics Blog, you will remember that more than 19 percent of children living in the United States are classified as obese. That number has quadrupled since 1980.

Why Do Children Become Obese?

According to Dr. Mike Morris from Powell Pediatrics, kids become overweight for several reasons with the most common being unhealthy food choices, a lack of activity and of course genetics. In some rare cases, children can become obese because of a hormonal issue.

What Obesity Does to Kids

Powell Pediatrics explains that children who are obese are more apt to be diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes associated with morbid obesity and obesity. You can fight obesity with healthy food choices and regular exercise.

Kids that are obese have a body mass index that is more than 95 percent. If you are unsure what your children’s BMI is, schedule an appointment with Powell Pediatrics today.