10 Major / Serious Child Health Problems

A survey revealed obesity as the most serious health threat to children. Smoking, drug abuse and teenage pregnancies in a large entry in the 10 most worrying health problems in children.
In an annual survey conducted in Michigan, the problem of obesity was selected as number one for three consecutive years. This year, obesity is selected by nearly 40 percent of 2064 respondents were involved.

10 major child health problems revealed in the survey are as follows.

1. Obese children, 38 percent
2. Drug abuse, 30 percent
3. Smoking, 29 percent
4. Internet Security, 25 percent
5. Stress, 24 percent
6. Bullying (violent behavior), 23 percent
7. Pregnancy at a young age, 23 percent
8. Abuse and neglect of children, 21 percent
9. Abuse of alcohol, 20 percent
10. No time to exercise, 20 percent

Meanwhile, if sorted out based on ethnic respondents, more obesity chosen by ethnic whites as the first rank (37 percent). Black ethnicity as the top pick of cigarettes (40 percent), while ethnic Hispanic vote drug abuse (46 percent).

Respondents were also asked to assess whether the choice was from time to time getting better, worse or the same. When taken on average, turned out 57 percent of respondents said that in general these problems worsen.

"This may be influenced by the results of previous surveys, which put obesity the number one problem for a third consecutive year," said Matthew M Davis, MD, originator of the survey was also professor of child health in
University of Michigan.

"Another possibility, parents start worrying about the possibility of complications due to obesity, like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and respiratory problems and sleep patterns," he added.

Smoking and substance abuse are also included in the ratings top 10, despite the country's national data show the number of the cases relate to issues that actually declining. According to Davis, this indicates a high concern for the parents to the danger of cigarettes and drugs.

"Efforts to combat smoking and drugs has been going on actively for several generations. For comparison, efforts to combat obesity Beru starts lately," said Davis.