Obesity has become an epidemic in Western society and is fast becoming a global health concern. Child obesity in particular is on the rise. Obesity, especially in young people can cause various complex health problems and result in permanent overall ill health.

BMI, short for body mass index is the marker that indicates how much fat a body has. It is the measure of weight against the height of the person and there is a range of healthy BMI values for various body sizes. A higher than healthy BMI is termed as obesity.

Weight loss may not be an easy thing to achieve but it is worth every possible effort. The human body is not designed to carry excess weight and the bones and joints can suffer irreparable damage due to obesity. Problems such as plantar fasciitis are on the rise, and research shows that childhood obesity can result in the permanent damage of joints as well as deformed bones.

Obesity increases the risk for cardiovascular disorders such as heart attacks, arteriosclerosis, and diabetes manifold. The heart does the job of making sure oxygen rich blood is pumped throughout the body with every breath, and obesity can cause the heart to malfunction and can also result in high blood pressure.

Obesity is not just the accumulation of fat under the skin but can also result in accumulation of fat in the internal organs such as the liver. It is not a cosmetic problem but a very serious health concern that affects the entire body from head to toe. The more common causes of obesity in children are, a diet high in unhealthy fats and sugars and a lack of physical activity.