Chavez, 1

Yadira Chavez
November 27, 2016
Instructor Cason
Foundations of Nutrition
Salt Lake Community College

Childhood obesity risk conditions: bone problems and skin conditions.

Introduction
Child obesity is increasingly common within the United States. Each year there is more
than 3 million cases recorded (Mayo Clinic, Childhood Obesity). Child obesity can lead to many
diseases and social problems, these diseases include diabetes, high blood pressure, and high
cholesterol. This paper will cover two of the risk conditions that childhood obesity provokes;
bone problems and skin conditions. As well as treatments, available for those risk conditions.
Bone problems
Growth plates regulate and determine the length and shape of a bone at full growth or
maturity (POSNA, 1). Excessive body weight causes stress on the growth plates which causes
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) and Blount's disease. SCFE is an orthopedic disorder
of the adolescent hip that is caused when there is too much weight on the body. Obesity causes
the alteration of the growth plate function which causes the child's hip to slip. The extra weight
ends up increasing the sheer forces across the proximal femoral growth plate which helps cause
the slip (POSNA, Musculoskeletal Health). The Blount's disease ends up occurring when there is
increased stress on a growth plate causing the legs to bow. Some of the other complications that
are caused by excess weight are bone

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fractures. This ends up occurring when too much stress is being put on the bones causing the
bones to weaken and easily become fractured (POSNA, Musculoskeletal Health).
Treatment
The treatment available for SCFE begins with stabilizing the growth plate with a screw to
prevent further slippage of the hip.
Another risk factor associated with bone problems is joint problems. Our joints can only
carry a certain amount of weight and stress. If too much stress is being put on the joints, it can
start to cause problems. For example, for every pound we gain it ends up putting an extra four
pounds of pressure on each of our knee joints (Kelly, OAC). Bursitis is another joint problem
that occurs with excess weight affects the joints. This ends up occurring when the fluid sack that
is near the joints which helps keep tissues from rubbing against bones is affected (Kelly, OAC).
Treatment
The treatment available for joint problems is usually dealt with losing weight, applying
some ice to the affected areas and taking pills. Another option is joint replacement surgery
(Kelly, OAC).
Skin Conditions
Obesity is linked with many skin conditions ranging from the most common skin
conditions to the rarest skin conditions. Keratosis appears as scaly patches with brownish
follicular plugs in the center. This is one of the rare conditions that occurs. Obesity alters the
skin barrier, can induce skin manifestations, and worsens existing skin diseases (Wilhelmstift,

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Pubmed). Excess body weight leads to skin fold or creases in the skin which sometimes retain
moisture. This leads to bacterial and fungal growth leading to skin infection and heat rashes
(Simon, Obesity in Children). Some of the most common skin conditions in childhood obesity
are Seborrheic dermatitis, capillarity's, stasis dermatitis, and skin tags (Simon, Obesity in
Children).
Treatment
Treatments available for skin conditions are taking antibiotics and maintaining a healthy
diet (Simon, Obesity in Children).
Conclusion
Child obesity in the United states is increasing due to poor diet and lack of exercise.
Childhood obesity leads to many diseases and conditions such as bone problems and skin
conditions. Throughout this paper, I talked about the bone problems and skin conditions that are
caused by childhood obesity as well as the treatments that are available for those problems and
conditions.

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Work Cited
The Impact of Childhood Obesity On Bone, Joint, and Muscle Health. Ortho Info. Ed.
POSNA. N.p., Feb. 2014. Web.
Kelly, Frank B. "What Your Weight Means For Your Bones." OAC. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Skin Diseases Associated With Obesity In Children." PubMed. Ed. NCBI. N.p., Apr. 2013. Web.
Simon, Amanda. "Skin Problems Caused By Obesity In Children." Momma Young @ Home.
N.p., n.d. Web.
"Childhood Obesity." Mayo Clinic. Ed. Mayo Clinic Stuff. N.p., n.d. Web.
Anne Smith, Gordon Wardlaw. Contemporary Nutrition: A Functional Approach. N.p.: n.p., n.d.
Print.