The only real solution to the problem is to try and get them to lose weight

A recent incident has highlighted how children can suffer from the psychological effects of obesity at a young age and how it impacts negatively on their lives.

In this case, a nine year old boy attending Green Elementary school started to be teased by his teacher who called him Shrek. The boy's mother made a complaint to the school saying that the teacher had humiliated him and this led to him being the target of other children. The boy was now refusing to go to school and was extremely upset and distraught.

Adults should be extremely careful about teasing children about their weight even if it is done in a very gentle and sweet way because despite their innocence they can take it extremely badly and they may not show it outwardly.

If you are the parent of an overweight child you should be just as conscious of the psychological damage that obesity can have as well as the physiological impact. Most doctors will tell you that obesity can cause diabetes, heart problems and even cancer but very few doctors will touch on the more sensitive aspects of obesity which involve the confidence and self-esteem of the child.

In fact some obesity experts argue that the potential psychological problems of obesity outweigh the physical impact especially in children. As a parent you should look out for the warning signs that your son or daughter may be being bullied and teased at school because of their weight.

The only real solution to the problem is to try and get them to lose weight. You can protect your children to a certain extent but if they get to their teenage years with a severe weight problem they are likely to stay that way for the rest of their lives. The younger you teach your children about healthy eating and exercise the more likely they are to take on board that message for life.