Obesity is a high amount of body fat. It leads to a much higher
body weight than is normal. This level of body fat can cause
serious health issues. Calories are consumed from food and
drinks. They are necessary for physical activity and all basic
body functions. A healthy weight is reached by balancing the
number of calories you eat and the number of calories you use.
Weight gain occurs when the number of calories eaten is greater
than the number of calories used. If this happens regularly, it
will lead to obesity. Calorie imbalances happen most often with
eating too much food and low levels of physical activity. Less
often, it may be caused by a medical condition or medication.
Factors that may increase your child's risk of being obese
include: - Sleep problems such as poor sleeping habits or lack
of sleep - Large birth weight - Lack of exercise - High level of
sedentary activities like watching TV, playing on the computer,
or playing video games - High consumption of fast food - High
consumption of sugar-sw