A major chronic disease: Obesity in childhood and adolescence

The aim of this paper is to draw attention to obesity in adolescence and its potential risks and put forward its consequences in terms of public health as well as offer solutions. Today, obesity has become one of the most frequent chronic diseases of childhood. The tendency to obesity is at an alarming level and the annual increase in this age group is gradually rising. The current situation shows that the prevalence of childhood obesity is ten times higher than the values in 1970s. In the 2003 report of the International Obesity Commission, it was stated that one out of ten children aged between 5-17 worldwide was overweight or obese.  20 % of the children in Europe are overweight and one third of these children are obese. In a study conducted in the provinces of Istanbul, Ankara and Ýzmir in our country with 1014 adolescents, obesity prevalence rate was found to be 15.1 % for males and 13.3 % for females. It is known that one third of obese children and 80 % of obese adolescents remain obese when they reach adult age. In addition to social and psychological problems resulting from obesity, it is known to be closely related with very serious diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. It is also known that obesity shortens life expectancy and that the process starts in the childhood period of many obese adults. Struggling with obesity actually means struggling with many other diseases. It is also of major significance for the future of our country to struggle with especially childhood obesity. In terms of public health, it is of primary importance to detect, avoid and cure obesity in this period.
Keywords: Obesity, children, adolescents, risk factors