Children who are overweight or obese can experience many symptoms. These may include problems with bones or joints, shortness of breath during exercise or sports, and signs of early maturity such as precocious puberty, irregular menstrual cycles and excessive growth of body hair.

In addition, obesity may cause a variety of related health conditions, such as:

• High blood pressure.
  
  
• Insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
  
  
• Acanthosis nigricans. A skin disorder associated with insulin resistance. People with acanthosis nigricans may have dark, velvety patches, especially in the folds of the skin, such as in the neck, armpits, abdomen, breasts and groin.
  
  
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A female reproductive disorder involving excessive amounts of male hormones. Girls with PCOS may have menstrual irregularities, skin tags, acne, hirsuitism (coarse hair in a male pattern, such as on the face, chest and abdomen) and hair loss.
  
  
• Hyperlipidemia. Unhealthy levels of cholesterol and other blood fats.
  
  
• Liver problems.
  
  
• Sleep apnea.
  
  
• Pseudotumor cerebri. A rare condition, not always related to obesity, that presents with increased intracranial pressure, leading to headaches that may cause blindness.

Children who are overweight may also suffer from poor self-esteem as a result of being teased, bullied or rejected by others. As they grow older, these children may be more likely to suffer from depression, eating disorders and substance abuse problems.