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Consequences of Childhood Obesity
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Obesity can have devastating and lifelong consequences for our children. Recent studies show that overweight
youth have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.11
Overweight people can face a lifetime of health consequences and chronic diseases including diabetes, multiple
forms of cancer, high blood pressure and strokes.Many of these afflictions are commonly associated with adults;
however, diabetes, a disease largely attributed to obesity and lack of physical activity has become increasingly
prevalent in our children. In fact, the CDC found that children born in this country at the start of the decade
will have a 33% lifetime risk of becoming diabetic.
Not as readily visible as the health consequences of overweight and obesity are the direct and indirect costs.
In 2003, Ohio financed $3.3 billion in obesity-attributable medical expenditures -- representing 6.1 percent of
Ohio's total medical expenditures.12 According to the Health Policy
Institute of Ohio, the state spends $289 per person per year on medical costs related to obesity. This makes Ohio
the 11th highest in the nation. Ohio's workers and employers also bear a significant financial burden due to obesity
and overweight in terms of higher costs for health, disability and life insurance.
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Consequences of Child Obesity
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Childhood obesity causes the following health problems in children:
- Asthma
- Bone and joint problems
- Sleep apnea
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Psychological problems
- Early growth and puberty
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