Kids Are Battling More Than Bulge

Everyone knows that when it comes to kids being overweight, health problems are on the horizon. The increased risk for diabetes, heart disease and some cancers do not discriminate against the youth. But that isn’t all that is facing the children who deal with obesity. There is new research that has made it evident that there are increased social and economic consequences to those who have battled the bulge since high school.

A study was conducted by University of Michigan epidemiologist Philippa Clarke on 5,000 high school graduates over the span of twenty years. In this study a group of those who graduated at a normal weight and those who didn’t were compared. The results may or may not surprise you.

Those who graduated heavy passed on going to college and leaned towards ending up on welfare or unemployment. Not so surprisingly, they were alone in life.

How great are the odds that an overweight teenager will be unemployed, alone and on welfare? According to the study they are a whopping 50% more likely.

Although the study only addresses the causes and not the results, the belief is that childhood discrimination crushes self-esteem and produces negative results.

Overweight people are 26 times as likely to report discrimination according to a study done by Rebecca Puhl of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University. The kids with the extra pounds are more likely to report being teased by peers and at times even teachers and families.

Because of the teasing, these kids end up feeling as though they aren’t worth anything and tend to lower their aspirations.

Despite the rise in obesity in the western world, discrimination against heavier individuals has risen 66 % in the last ten years.

Speculation is that it is the mindset that people can control it. Yet, the temptation is all around. The food in the environment is toxic and it’s showing among the kids. Changing the environment is key to changing lives according to experts.

Short URL: http://www.yamche.com/?p=408

Posted by TheaRaven on Jul 28 2010. Filed under Featured News, Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry