Childhood Fat Turns into Height? It Might Actually Hinder Growth

Here is the final, informative piece of news.

You have probably heard the saying that "baby fat turns into height as children grow."

Is that actually true?

If you leave childhood obesity untreated while believing this old saying, it can actually hinder a child's growth.

Let us check the facts together.

According to Professor Woo Hyun-ah of the Department of Pediatrics at Kyung Hee University Hospital, an excessive accumulation of body fat can lead to precocious puberty.

In such cases, growth plates close early, so while children may seem to grow a bit faster at first, it can ultimately be disadvantageous for their final adult height.

In addition, childhood obesity increases the risk of various conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.

In fact, the obesity rate among children aged 6 to 11 recently reached 13.6%, which is about 5 percentage points higher compared to 8.7% a decade ago.

The idea that "fat turns into height" may not be a fact.

We should help children maintain an appropriate weight through proper dietary habits and exercise.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.