Abstract

ROMERO-VELARDE, Enrique  and  VASQUEZ-GARIBAY, Edgar M. Child obesity: A problem unnoticed by parents and its relation with chronic and degenerative diseases in adulthood. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2008, vol.65, n.6, pp.519-527. ISSN 1665-1146.

Obesity is becoming more prevalent in children and adolescents around the world, including Mexico. Different reports have shown the failure of parents to recognize the overweight status of their children; this problem could be present also in school teachers and health professionals attending obese children for other health problems. Obesity in children can have adverse physical, metabolic and psychosocial consequences affecting the health status of affected children. It is important to identify the presence and persistence of cardiovascular risk factors, as these groups of disease are leading causes of morbidity and mortality among adults in Mexico. Obese children have been frequently shown to grow into obese adults and have higher than expected morbidity and mortality in adult life, particularly due to cardiovascular diseases. It is important to identify timely the presence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in order to install opportune preventive measures to avoid the appearance and progression of cardiovascular risk factors.

Keywords : Child; obesity; parental; role; chronic disease; degenerative.

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