Question
What Are the Specific Causes of Childhood Obesity?
Answer
Childhood obesity, particularly simple obesity, often has a familial tendency. Many overweight children have family members who are also overweight. If one parent is overweight, the child’s risk of obesity is about 40% to 50%; if both parents are slim, the risk drops to only 9% to 14%. This is mainly because a child’s activity and dietary habits may be influenced by their parents and family. Additionally, the basic energy expenditure for rest and activity is genetically determined. Some overweight families have a lower basic metabolic rate, with the basic metabolic rate of children from overweight parents or single parents being about 10% lower than that of children with normal weight. The energy expenditure from physical activity is less than twice that of children born to normal weight parents. A sedentary lifestyle is an important risk factor for obesity.