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Childhood Obesity - What The Research Tells Us

Obesity Rates Are Increasing

The rapid increase in overweight among children and adolescents is generating widespread concern. Since the 1970s, the prevalence of overweight among children has more than doubled for preschoolers ages 2 to 5 and adolescents ages 12 to 19, and it has more than tripled for children 6 to 11 years. Nearly one-third of children and adolescents, of both sexes, aged 6 to 19 years (31.0%) are considered to be either at risk for overweight or overweight, defined as at or above the 85th percentile of the sex-specific BMI-for-age growth chart, and 16% are overweight or at or above the 95th percentile of the sex-specific BMI-for-age growth chart.

Rates For Boys And Girls Remain Similar

Although the percentage of overweight children and adolescents increased from the 1960s to 2002, the rates remain similar for boys and girls. For the years 1999-2002, among boys ages 6 to 19, 29.2% are at risk for overweight or were overweight. Among girls ages 6 to 19 during the same time period, 27.0% were at risk for overweight or were overweight.

Prevelance Of Overweight Children

Some Groups Of Children Are More Affected By Obesity Than Others

Among boys and young men, risk of overweight and overweight is a particular burden among those of Mexican American descent, with 42.8% of Mexican Americans ages 6 to 19 either at risk of overweight or overweight compared with 31.0% of non-Hispanic black boys and adolescents and 29.2% of non-Hispanic white boys and adolescents. Among girls and young women, 40.1% of non-Hispanic black young people are at risk of overweight or overweight, compared to 36.6% of Mexican American girls and young women and 27.0% of non-Hispanic white girls and young women.

Genetics

Genetics is a factor in excess weight but does not explain the recent epidemic of overweight. While having overweight parents more than doubles a child’s risk of being obese, genetic characteristics of human populations have not changed in the last two decades, while the prevalence of obesity among children and adults has approximately doubled.

Economic Costs Associated With Obesity Are Increasing

Hospitalizations among children and adolescents (6 to 17 years of age) for diseases associated with obesity increased sharply between 1979 and 1999.

Adult Overweight

The probability of childhood overweight persisting into adulthood increases from approximately 20% at 4 years of age, to between 40% and 80% by adolescence. 26 It is also probable that the diseases associated with overweight will persist into adulthood, as well. Adult overweight is a risk factor for major health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, gallbladder disease, cancer (endometrial, colon, kidney, gallbladder, and postmenopausal breast cancer), and osteoarthritis.

Reprinted with permission from the web site of the The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools

Last updated March 1, 2007




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