A guideline called the body mass index (BMI) is used to estimate it. If a person takes in more calories than he or she uses for energy, then he or she will gain weight.But a teen's obesity can be caused by a combination of things. Obesity prevalence among children and adolescents is still too high. Encourage teens to get more sleep every night. Children who are obese are above the normal weight for their age and height.Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once considered adult problems — diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Key points about obesity in teens. Earlier bedtimes have been found to decrease rates of obesity. It can be linked to:Some endocrine disorders, diseases, and medicines may also have a strong effect on a child’s weight.Things that may put your teen at risk for obesity are:Too much body fat is the main symptom of obesity. Obesity most commonly begins between the ages of 5 and 6, or during adolescence. Obesity is a serious health condition; as of 2007, 32% of children aged 10-17 in the U.S. are overweight and 16% are obeseWithout intervention, extremely obese children may continue to suffer from obesity as adults;Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study found about half of obese teenage girls and a third of obese teenage boys become severely obese by the time they are 30 1 in 12 teenagers become severely obese, or 100 pounds above their ideal weight, as they enter adulthood Obesity may be more prevalent among minority populations; 6% of African-American, 5% of Mexican-American and 3% of Caucasian children and adolescents are considered obese 2010 New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) study suggests obese adolescents are more than twice as likely than non-obese adolescents to die prematurely, before age 55, of illness or self-inflicted injury Without major lifestyle changes, obese children may face a 10-20 year shorter life span and may develop health problems in their twenties that are typically seen in 40-60 year-olds2010 Journal of Pediatrics study finds nearly two-thirds of morbidly obese children have 2 or more cardiovascular risk factors and a substantial proportion have significant co-morbidities typically seen in adults, including obstructive sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, severe depression, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, significant hypertension and an enlarged heartA study of 5- to 17-year-olds found that 70% of obese children had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease and 39% of obese children had at least two risk factorsAmong morbidly obese adolescents ages 15-17, 83% had elevated C-Reactive Protein levels, a blood marker for inflammation that in adults is considered an early warning sign for possible future heart disease, compared to 18% of healthy weight adolescentsStudies suggest bariatric surgery should be considered for adolescents with BMI > 40 or >35 with serious co-morbid conditionsBariatric surgery in adolescents with morbid obesity is shown to be more effective for losing weight than diet and exercise alone; a 2010 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study found teens fitted with gastric bands had an average of nearly 80% excess weight loss, while diet and exercise group lost an average of 13% excess weightStudies show that surgery may also be an effective tool for resolving or improving co-morbid conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome and in adolescents2010 Journal of Pediatrics study on the importance of early medical intervention to treat morbid obesity, found with earlier surgical intervention, adolescents may have a greater chance of reversing the effects of obesityEnter a name, topic or any other keyword and press Update your browser to view this website correctly. In many ways, childhood obesity is a puzzling disease. 1 Eating disorders (EDs) are the third most common chronic condition in adolescents, after obesity and asthma. What causes obesity? The factors that influence obesity among adolescents are the same as those among adults. Obesity is a serious health condition; as of 2007, 32% of children aged 10-17 in the U.S. are overweight and 16% are obese 1, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years 2. They should focus on a modest cutting back of calories, changing eating habits, and adding more physical activity.Obesity can affect your teen’s health in a number of ways. Studies have shown that a child who is obese between the ages of 10 and 13 has an 80 percent chance of becoming an obese adult. On one hand, the cause seems simple. It has 2 categories:Treatment depends on your teen’s symptoms, age, and health. The causes of obesity are complex and include genetic, biological, behavioral and cultural factors.