No. 79; March 2011 Click here to download and print a PDF
version of this document. The problem of childhood obesity in
the United States has grown considerably in recent years.
Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese.
Obesity is among the easiest medical conditions to recognize but
most difficult to treat. Unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet
and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each
year. The annual cost to society for obesity is estimated at
nearly $100 billion. Overweight children are much more likely to
become overweight adults unless they adopt and maintain
healthier patterns of eating and exercise. What is obesity? A
few extra pounds does not suggest obesity. However they may
indicate a tendency to gain weight easily and a need for changes
in diet and/or exercise. Generally, a child is not considered
obese until the weight is at least 10 percent higher than what
is recommended for their height and body type. Obesity most
commonly begins between the ages