• Junk food is a major cause of obesity in the United States."fast food is the best!" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: ebruli (ebru) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
  
  

Lifestyle

• The biggest factor in childhood obesity is an unhealthy lifestyle. Junk food has become a staple in many children's diets, and sedentary activities, such as video games and the Internet, are replacing outdoor physical activities.
  
  

Biological Factors

• Genetic diseases and hormonal disorders, such as Cushing's syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome, are less common causes of childhood obesity.
  
  

Complications

• Childhood obesity poses a serious threat because it can predispose children to type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, respiratory problems, high blood pressure, liver disease, sleep disorders, early puberty and skin disorders.
  
  

Warning

• Obese children are often ridiculed and bullied. This may result in low self-esteem, depression, eating disorders and problems with behavior and learning. If you think that your child is suffering from any of these conditions, talk to her pediatrician.
  
  

Prevention

• Establish good eating habits in your home. Go outside with your child and have fun with him, playing baseball, basketball or any other activities that he likes. Also, take your child to the pediatrician once a year for a checkup.