Stress and Other Factors in Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the modern world, and its source is a tangled mix of social and personal factors. Children who are overweight may face a variety of health problems as well as mental and emotional stress. Understanding the causes can be a key first step in preventing weight issues in children.

What Is Childhood Obesity?

Childhood obesity isn’t always easy to identify in children. Some children have larger than average body frames or carry more body fat at certain key stages of development. Appearance or a comparison to other children isn’t always a good way to identify obesity. Calculating your child’s Body Mass Index (BMI), is the most widely accepted way to identify obesity. A BMI greater than the 95th percentile for children of the same age constitutes pediatric obesity.

The Causes of Childhood Obesity

There are a variety of things that can cause childhood obesity. Usually, these factors occur in a combination to create the problem. Some of the most common factors include:

• A poor diet. Children need to eat a balanced diet to satisfy the needs of their growing bodies. Unfortunately, the prevalence of fast food has greatly contributed to childhood obesity. Children who eat a diet that contains lots of processed, sugary, or fatty foods and drinks are far more likely to be obese.
• Family environment. If a child’s family eats poorly and doesn’t exercise, they won’t learn the habits that will keep them in a healthy weight range. Overweight parents tend to have overweight children.
• Lack of exercise. Exercise is essential for maintaining healthy muscles and using calories. Children who sit at school for hours and then come home to sit and watch TV for hours are probably not getting enough.
• Stress. Stress can be very damaging for children, who don’t have the skills to cope with it. A child who experiences a lot of stress or insecurity because of personal, family, or parental problems is more likely to overeat to overcome these issues.
• Socioeconomics. Access to fresh food, a place to exercise, and a low-stress environment is essential and it’s often determined by financial factors.
• Mental health. Mental health challenges and emotional trauma can both lead to overeating and childhood obesity. Children who have experienced trauma such as grief, loss, bullying, or abuse, are more likely to experience high stress levels and turn to food as comfort.

The Health Consequences of Obesity

Children who are obese are more likely to be obese adults. They can also experience a range of consequences from the excess weight. This includes emotional, social, and health consequences that can worsen the original problem. Some of the social and emotional consequences that childhood obesity can cause are:

• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Bullying
• Behavioral problems
• Learning problems
• Anxiety

These issues can cause additional stress and worsen the original problem. Obesity can also increase the risk of developing a variety of diseases, both in childhood and as adults. Some of the most problematic and common are:

• Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea
• Asthma
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Type II diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• Joint issues because of the excess pressure on the bones
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• AFS

These diseases can have long term health consequences. They can also increase your child’s stress levels, which can lead to adrenal fatigue and AFS.

How Stress Contributes to Childhood Obesity

Stress is often a key cause of childhood obesity and the result of it as well. Stress can lead to overeating and lack of energy, which can lead to weight gain. And conversely, excess weight threatens the body’s health and causes physical and emotional stress, which can lead to adrenal fatigue.

Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) can occur when the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response is active for too long. This system activates during stressful times and then shuts down when they end. But if someone is for a long time, for example, because of family tension, poverty, or health issues, then the organs in this system can become overworked and dysregulated. This can cause the adrenals, responsible for producing the hormone cortisol (a.k.a. the stress hormone) to become fatigued, resulting in adrenal fatigue.

Stress is a well-known cause of weight issues in adults, and it can also contribute to childhood obesity. Stress leads to inflammation, which affects the gut and microbiome, which will impact the digestion and absorption of nutrients. It can also lead to leaky gut, which can cause autoimmunity and speed up the development of diabetes. Stress can also lead to blood sugar spikes and crashes, as the body tries to produce more energy to manage a stressor, leading to sugar cravings, which cause more blood sugar spikes and crashes. This also worsens the cycle of obesity, fatigue, and gut problems. If weight causes bullying, anxiety, or depression, this can become a stressor in itself.

This is obviously a serious situation and one that may call for professional help, especially if your child has AFS. Stress can affect children and teens in different ways than it does in adults, and if you suspect your child is dealing with issues caused by stress, the best option may be to seek out a natural medicine practitioner well versed in the ways different mental and physical factors interact.

It’s also important to consider the speed at which you are making changes to address their excess weight as well. Although the changes may be tailored to remedy the very serious problem of childhood obesity, they can increase your child’s stress levels and worsen AFS. That’s why it’s important that any changes are made slowly and with the help of someone who understands AFS and can help set realistic goals.

The Takeaway

Childhood obesity can be a lifelong problem that can lead to serious health concerns. It’s also a problem that can be caused or exacerbated by AFS. So, if your child struggles with stress and their weight, you need to find a way to address both these problems for the sake of their long-term health.

© Copyright 2020 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.

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