INTERVIEW: OBESIY IN CHILDREN

 OBESITY IS A COMPLEX DISEASE INVOLVING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF BODY FAT.
OBESITY ISN'T JUST A COSMETIC CONCERN. IT IS A MEDICAL PROBLEM THAT
INCREASES YOUR RISK OF OTHER DISEASES AND HEALTH PROBLEMS, SUCH AS HEART
DISEASE, DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND CERTAIN CANCERS.
 CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS A SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION THAT AFFECTS CHILDREN AND

ADOLESCENTS. IT'S PARTICULARLY TROUBLING BECAUSE THE EXTRA POUNDS OFTEN
START CHILDREN ON THE PATH TO HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT WERE ONCE CONSIDERED
ADULT PROBLEMS — DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL.
CHILDHOOD OBESITY CAN ALSO LEAD TO POOR SELF-ESTEEM AND DEPRESSION.
 WE ARE JOINED BY DR CHANTELL WITTEN WHO IS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE
ASSOCIATION FOR DIETETICS IN SOUTH AFRICA (ADSA), A REGISTERED DIETITIAN AND
AN ACADEMIC AT WITS UNIVERSITY, DIVISION COMMUNITY PAEDIATRICS