Children or adolescents who are overweight or obese are more likely in the short-term to develop gastrointestinal, endocrine or certain orthopaedic problems than children of normal weight and more likely in the longer-term to develop cardiovascular disease. The most immediate consequence of overweight as perceived by the children themselves is social discrimination. This is associated with poor self-esteem and depression.
It is now clear that there are numerous health benefits to be gained by individuals and the community as a whole through maintaining a healthy weight throughout life. Obesity develops over time, and once it has done so, is difficult to treat. Therefore, the prevention of weight gain offers the most effective means of controlling obesity.
