Child obesity is a very serious problem which affects Hispanic children especially. The consequences of obesity in children go beyond "looks". There are certain diseases adults suffer, some of which are irreversible that children are already suffering from as a consequence of obesity.

Health risks for children
Due to the epidemic of obesity which is affecting the United States, you might have heard about the dangerous consequences adults face: from diabetes to the risk of suffering a heart attack or problems with their joints.

Nevertheless, what has surprised researchers in the child obesity field is that many children are also suffering these types of health problems. There are children with diabetes, problems with their joints and with very high levels of cholesterol.

These are some of the most common problems among Hispanic children:

• Insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that the pancreas secretes and which acts as the key which allows the opening of a door in cells so that they can absorb the glucose that comes from food. Since it cannot enter, it remains in the blood, causing diabetes. When there is resistance to insulin cells don't respond to it. The pancreas secretes more and more in an attempt to make the process work. In a few years the pancreas starts to deteriorate due to this exertion.
• Metabolic syndrome. This syndrome is a combination of symptoms such as abdominal obesity, low HDL cholesterol and hypertension, which puts children who suffer from these more at risk of developing heart disease. Nine out of ten Hispanic children with parents or grandparents with diabetes have at least one of the symptoms of metabolic syndrome.
• Type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes develops as a result of obesity. Hispanic children are disproportionately affected by this disease due to the genetic tendency for diabetes and the high incidence of obesity in this population group.

Other physical symptoms are sleep apnea, irregular periods in girls or orthopedic problems due to the excess weight on the joints.

Psychological consequences on a child
Obesity is not socially accepted, but if it's suffered by a child who is just starting to develop his or her self-esteem, the psychological consequences are serious.

Studies show that overweight children have low self-esteem or a poor concept of themselves. In general, Hispanic girls have lower self-esteem and adolescents with this problem may isolate themselves, smoke, drink alcohol or engage in other negative behaviors. Sadness and feelings of loneliness are brought on by the lack of acceptance from their peers and this may drive them to depression, with the added health risks this entails.

If your child is having problems fitting in at school, take it seriously, and don't say: "It will go away". Get professional help from a psychologist if necessary because the development of his or her self-esteem now will affect the rest of his or her life.

Obesity in children is not a problem that happens overnight, it's something that is developed throughout the years. Observe your child closely and watch out for any physical changes he or she is experiencing and step in taking him or her to the pediatrician or nutritionist before he or she becomes overweight.

It's not the same to suffer from this disease in adulthood than when a child is getting started out in life.