The fast food generation: children and adiposity

Even though the Body Mass Index (BMI) is highly criticized and cannot be applied without restrictions, the definition for being overweight requires a BMI of over 25 lb/in², while adiposity is diagnosed with a BMI of more than 30 lb/in². The main reasons for children being overweight or obese are insufficient physical activity, as well as bad nutrition. A study at the University of Cambridge shows that there has been an increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables, yet at the same time, the consumption of industrially processed products with high fat and sugar levels, has also risen. Bad nutrition, in combination with less active hobbies (involving far less physical activity than only a few years ago), automatically leads to an increased risk in becoming overweight or obese.

The consequences of being overweight are manifold: excess weight and adiposity don’t only lead to psychological issues through bullying, they can also have a negative effect on a child’s stress condition, straining movement and strength. Obesity can also lead to old-age diseases at a young age. For example, the amount of children and young adults affected by Diabetes mellitus type 2, the so-called old-age diabetes, is constantly rising. Obesity also increases the risk of high blood-pressure, disruptions of the lipid metabolism and arthrosis.

To avoid adiposity, children should engage in regular physical activity. This not only includes time for sports, but also regular movement in daily activities. Experts recommend children to be active for at least 30 minutes every day. Additionally, one hour of active leisure time should be accounted for daily. Ideally, these 90 minutes should be accompanied by another 30 minutes of sport in school or sports clubs. A healthy diet is also essential. Meals that include fruits, vegetables and whole wheat products should be served regularly. Soft drinks that contain a high amount of hidden sugar and calories, should be replaced with water or unsweetened tea.

The higher the risk of excess weight and the more obese a child is, the higher their chances are of being overweight in adulthood. It is therefore essential to fight against adiposity as early as possible, or ideally, to avoid gaining excess weight altogether. Experts warn that the life expectancy of future generations could continually decline in relation to the increase in weight and the associated diseases.

Excess weight is not often recognized with children and young adults. Regular examinations can therefore be useful to help prevent adiposity early on. seca offers a large product palette of scales for home use. However, checking a child’s weight is also a part of every standard pediatrician’s examination. For professional use, seca offers a variety of solutions as well: flat scales, such as the seca 878, or column scales, such as the seca 704 s, all include an integrated measuring stick for precisely measuring the patient’s weight and size. Special devices that are compatible with the seca 360° wireless technology, simplify the examinations, as their data can be easily transmitted to a computer or other compatible machines.

All in all, preventing excess weight and adiposity plays an essential role in the health of children and young adults. For recognizing weight discrepancies early on and taking preventative action, seca has the perfect solutions.

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