Preventing obesity in puberty

During puberty, children experience many hormonal and metabolic changes. Wanting their children to reach their full potential, many families focus too much on their daily meals while neglecting physical activity, as children must concentrate on their studies. As a result, many children gain weight, or even become obese, during this stage of life.

Teenagers should engage in physical activity for at least 60 minutes each day. Photo: Hai Yen

If left unaddressed, obesity can lead to numerous negative consequences for both the physical and mental health of children. Conversely, some children, wanting to appear slim, resort to dieting and weight loss. This is also detrimental to their development.

Eating a lot, exercising little.

Entering the 8th grade, TTA (from Trang Dai ward) began to grow rapidly. TA ate more than before and always seemed to have a "delicious" appetite. At each meal, TA ate even twice the amount an adult would eat. On weekends or holidays, after each test, her parents would reward her with quick meals like fried chicken and pizza… The amount of food consumed was high, while TA hardly participated in any physical activities because she focused all her time on studying. In her free time, she stayed indoors watching TV or using her phone. Therefore, in addition to growing taller, TA also began to gain weight rapidly and gradually showed signs of obesity.

One of the easily recognizable signs of obesity is acanthosis nigricans on the neck. This is a skin disorder that results in patches of color ranging from light brown to black. Initially, the skin may only turn gray, appearing dirty, then gradually darken and feel rough to the touch. Acanthosis nigricans commonly occurs in people who are obese or have diabetes. Children with acanthosis nigricans have a higher than normal risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

According to Nguyen Thi Huong, Head of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department at Hoan My Dong Nai Hospital, many parents still believe that "being chubby means being healthy," or think that their children will lose weight on their own as they grow older. In reality, obesity during puberty not only affects appearance but also leads to a series of serious consequences for metabolism, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, and psychology.