Obese children risk iron deficiency

Overweight children have double the risk of being iron deficient, because of bad diet and lack of exercise. Iron deficiency is a global problem most commonly found in poor people lacking proper nutrition. Too little iron in the blood can cause anaemia and lead to learning and behavioural problems as well as pose limits on work and exercise.A recent study found that the rising number of obese people in the developed world should be checked and treated for it.

Researchers from the Yale University fond that one out of seven U.S. children are overweight and many do not get screened for iron deficiency. They studied 10,000 children aged 2 to 16 and found that nearly one in 10 of the overweight teenagers were iron deficient. Among 2 to 5 year-olds, 6 per cent were iron deficient. Overall, the rate of iron deficiency was double among overweight children as compared to normal-weight children. It was also more likely if the children's body mass index (a ratio of weight to height known as BMI) was high. According to the study the association between iron deficiency and being overweight may be caused by lack of exercise or a diet lacking in iron-rich foods. It also said that genetics could play a role, and that overweight girls tend to grow faster than their peers, making it difficult for them to keep up with their bodies' iron requirements.

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