What is the prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents in the U.S., and what are the contributing factors? What are the resulting health and social consequences?

Answer 1

The CDC estimates approximately 17% of children 6 to 11 years of age are at or above the 95th percentile for BMI. This is 54% higher than 20 years ago. The percentage of overweight children is on the rise in the U.S. The behaviors most strongly linked to weight gain in children are unhealthy eating patterns (consumption of energy-dense foods, fast food, pre-packaged food) and physical inactivity (increased television viewing has replaced physical activity and there has been a decrease in physical education requirements in schools). Health conditions once only common in adults are now becoming more common in children—e.g., type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated blood lipids. Excess weight in childhood is likely to continue into adolescence and into adulthood. An unhealthy overweight child will very likely become an even more overweight, unhealthy adult.