What Causes Teen Obesity?

Doctors and parents are concerned about what causes teen obesity, because the number of obese teenagers continues to rise. The estimated numbers of overweight and obese teenagers varies by study, but they all agree the numbers are too high. Anywhere from 16% to 33% of teenagers are considered to be overweight or obese, and there is no reduction in sight. Unless something is done to change the trend, teenagers will continue to see similar health problems found in obese adults.

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The definition of an overweight teenager is a person who has a body mass index (BMI) that is 85% to 95% of other teens' BMI in the same age group. An obese teen BMI is over 95% for their age group. Teenagers are children who are younger than 19 years old but older than 13 years of age. The total group is broken down into specific age groups for weight comparisons.

One of the reasons the problem has reached such serious proportions is because it can take years for the problem to actually develop. In other words, the teenager is obese as the result of years of poor childhood nutrition and not getting enough exercise. If the poor childhood eating habits continue during the teenage years the problem is exacerbated.

When Imitation is Not Flattering

There is an old expression that says imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. That may be true in some cases, but in other situations there is nothing flattering about teens imitating adults. Teenagers who are obese are developing the same health problems adults develop when they are overweight or obese. That means higher rates of weight-related diseases occur at a younger age. For example, obese teenagers are more likely to develop diabetes , heart disease and high cholesterol.

There are many factors which contribute to what causes teen obesity. Teens eat too much high fat, fast food. They also often have poor eating habits, which were learned at home. Once again imitation is not flattery when it involves teenagers imitating adults eating in front of the television or on the run. Other causes of teen obesity include genetics and medical reasons such as hormonal or glandular problems.

Of course, after poor nutrition, one of the main reasons teens grow obese is lack of exercise. There is now a generation of children and teenagers who have become more sedentary, primarily due to TV, computers and video games. Sports and physical education have been cut out of many school programs, due to lack of funding. So, who do you blame for teen obesity?

Copying the Right Behavior

Learning what causes teen obesity is just the first step towards correcting the problem. If imitating poor behavior has led to teenage obesity, then behavior modification is the solution. This includes learning how to follow a healthier diet and increasing activity. Obese teenagers can lose weight and reduce their risk of developing certain diseases by learning to imitate the correct behaviors.

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