Consequences of overweight in children and adolescents

About 15% of all children are overweight. The more overweight children are, the more likely it is that the obesity will persist into adulthood. This also depends on whether the parents are also affected by overweight.

Overweight children have a significantly increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus type 2 (sugar disease) at an early age. In colloquial language, diabetes mellitus type 2 is also called old-age sugar, because it usually only occurs at an older age. In the meantime, however, many overweight children and adolescents also suffer from diabetes mellitus type 2.

The disease is caused by overweight, but also by a lack of exercise. The body no longer responds sufficiently to the blood sugar-lowering hormone insulin. Insulin resistance can lead to another effect in addition to the sugar disease.

It can cause increased testosterone levels in girls, which leads to masculinization (virilization). This can be expressed, for example, by a deeper voice or increased hairiness. It can also lead to a so-called polycystic ovarian syndrome, which sometimes results in infertility.

Since the female sex hormones, the estrogen, are produced in the fatty tissue, among other things, obese girls reach puberty earlier. The earlier onset is also caused by the fact that puberty sets in above a certain body weight. This body weight is logically reached earlier in overweight children, so that puberty begins earlier.

Due to the changed hormone levels compared to normal weight children, there are often disturbances in the cycle. For example, menstruation is more often irregular or even stops altogether. Oestrogen is not only present in the female body, boys also produce oestrogen, just as girls have testosterone.

This means that overweight boys also produce more oestrogen in the fatty tissue, which can lead to the development of a breast attachment (gynecomastia). The hormone IGF (insulin like growth factor), which is a growth hormone, is also produced in fatty tissue. Due to the increased production in overweight children, there is a faster growth in length and premature skeletal maturity.

The rapid growth leads to tearing of the connective tissue of the skin, so that adolescents often have many so-called stretch marks. Even in childhood, severely overweight children can already suffer from joint wear.Overweight children develop splayfeet, flat feet, bow legs, bow legs and knock-knees more often than normal weight children. They usually develop as compensation for the increased body weight.

Overweight adolescents between 10 and 14 years of age have an increased risk of a femoral head disease, the so-called epiphyseolyisis capitits femoris, in which the femoral head slips off. The disease carries the risk that the femoral head can no longer be nourished via the blood vessels and dies. Overweight children often suffer psychologically more than overweight adults.

Their self-esteem is often lower and often depression develops. In general, overweight people have a higher rate of depression and anxiety disorders. Since the female sex hormones, the estrogen, are produced in the fatty tissue, among other things, obese girls reach puberty earlier.

The earlier onset is also due to the fact that puberty sets in above a certain body weight. This body weight is logically reached earlier in overweight children, so that puberty begins earlier. Due to the changed hormone levels compared to normal weight children, there are often disturbances in the cycle.

For example, menstruation is more often irregular or even stops altogether. Oestrogen is not only present in the female body, boys also produce oestrogen, just as girls have testosterone. This means that overweight boys also produce more oestrogen in the fatty tissue, which can lead to the development of a breast attachment (gynecomastia).

The hormone IGF (insulin like growth factor), which is a growth hormone, is also produced in fatty tissue. Due to the increased production in overweight children, there is a faster growth in length and premature skeletal maturity. The rapid growth leads to tearing of the skin’s connective tissue, so that adolescents often have many so-called stretch marks.

Even in childhood, severely overweight children can already suffer from joint wear. Overweight children develop splayfeet and flat feet as well as bow legs and knock-knees more often than normal weight children. They usually occur as compensation for the increased body weight.