follows.
In the heart and blood vessels, obesity promotes high LDL (bad) cholesterol, low HDL (good) cholesterol, high triglyerides and other blood fats, high blood pressure, abnormal blood clotting, and elevated inflammation that damages blood vessels ("Fla. Elementary students required...," 2008). In the lungs, obesity can lead to sleep apnea, asthma, and shortness of breath during exertion. Digestive disorders caused or exacerbated by obesity include gallstones, constipation, acid reflux, and a fatty liver ("Fla. Elementary students required...," 2008).
Type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not make enough insulin, was once seen primarily as a disease of adulthood; it is now being seen in children due to chronic overeating and the weight gain that results ("Fla. Elementary students required...," 2008). Obesity in children can lead to early puberty. Girls may suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome, ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles, and abnormal hair growth on the chin, chest, abdomen, and upper lip ("Fla. Elementary students required...," 2008).
Because children's bones are in a rapid growth stage, bone and joint problems caused by obesity can lead to a deformed skeletal structure that follows children into adulthood ("Fla. Elementary students required...," 2008). Defects in bone formation seen in obese children include a dislocated growth plate in the hip socket, bowed knees (Blount's disease), flat feed, and pain in weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees, and lower back ("Fla. Elementary students required...," 2008).
Depression is a major concern for obese children ("Fla. Elementary students required...," 2008). A study by Lawson (2003) revealed that obese children have depression profiles similar to those of cancer patients. The obese children in the study missed an average of four days of school per month, compared to the non-overweight children who misse...