Childhood​ ​obesity​ ​can​ ​affect​ ​both​ ​a​ ​child’s​ ​physical​ ​and​ ​mental​ ​health​ ​in​ ​the following​ ​ways:
 

• Dyslipidemia,​ ​​ which​ ​may​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​greater​ ​chances​ ​of​ ​cardiovascular​ ​diseases in​ ​adulthood
• High​ ​blood​ ​pressure
• Diabetes​ ​or​ ​metabolic​ ​disorders​ ​from​ ​consuming​ ​too​ ​many​ ​carbohydrates
• Bone​ ​or​ ​joint​ ​disorders,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​​scoliosis​,​ ​​ bowed-leggedness​,​ ​or​ ​​flat​ ​feet
• Skin​ ​conditions,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​fungal​ ​infections​ ​or​ ​a susceptibility​ ​to​ ​skin​ ​infections
• Snoring​ ​and​ ​sleep​ ​apnea
• Irregular​ ​menstruation​ ​in​ ​females,​ ​leading​ ​to​ ​infertility​ ​in​ ​adulthood
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common cause of liver disease in children
• Low​ ​self-esteem​ ​and​ ​depression

If​ ​a​ ​child​ ​is​ ​found​ ​to​ ​be​ ​at​ ​risk​ ​of​ ​obesity,​ ​doctors​ ​may:
 

• Calculate​ ​the​ ​child’s​ ​​Body​ ​Mass​ ​Index​ ​(BMI)​,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​the​ ​ratio​ ​between weight​ ​(kg)​ ​and​ ​height​ ​(​m​ ^2​).​ ​The​ ​child’s​ ​BMI​ ​result​ ​is​ ​compared​ ​to​ ​the​ ​BMI chart​ ​according​ ​to​ ​age.​ ​If​ ​a​ ​child’s​ ​weight​ ​is​ ​over​ ​the​ ​95​^th​​ ​percentile​ ​on​ ​the chart,​ ​they​ ​are​ ​considered​ ​obese.

• Perform​ ​blood​ ​tests​ ​to​ ​check:
  • Cholesterol​ ​levels
  • Blood​ ​glucose​ ​levels​ ​after​ ​fasting
  • Hormone​ ​levels,​ ​which​ ​may​ ​be​ ​abnormal​ ​in​ ​obese​ ​or​ ​overweight children,​ ​such​ ​as thyroid​ ​and​ ​insulin levels

Please​ ​note​ ​that​ ​some​ ​blood​ ​tests​ ​require​ ​the​ ​patient​ ​to​ ​refrain​ ​from​ ​consuming food​ ​or​ ​water​ ​prior​ ​to​ ​the​ ​test.