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The Terrible Dangers of Childhood Obesity
An Excerpt from The Highly Healthy Child
By Dr. Walt Larimore
In addition, children or teens who are obese or overweight are often considered to be lazy when, in reality, physical activity is much more difficult for them than for children of normal weight. Excessive weight stresses children's joints and may cause leg or back pain when they exercise. Obesity also reduces their endurance, making exercise more difficult. Last, but not least, low self-esteem or depression, which often accompanies being overweight or obese, alters the production of brain chemicals that influence the desire for activity.
Children or teens who become obese will have significantly more difficulty losing weight and maintaining weight loss throughout life. Why is this? Because children or teens who become overweight or obese do so by dramatically increasing the number and size of their fat cells. Obese children make five times more fat cells than leaner children. Why is this so bad? you may be thinking. Can't you lose them later, when you lose weight?
No! Emphatically, no! Weight loss will cause a decrease in fat cell size but not fat cell numbers. Therefore, a critical part of raising highly healthy children is preventing them from becoming overweight or obese.
