Trends in America

Childhood Obesity Trends in America:

• 13 million U.S. children are obese and have a body mass index above the 95th percentile.
• In the last 40 years obesity rates among children have tripled.
• Obese children have a extremely high chance (approximately 80%) of becoming obese adults.
• Estimated 60% of these children have at least one accompanying health risk associated with obesity.
• An estimated $14 billion is being spent on obesity health expenses annually
• Poorer areas have less opportunity to implement healthy choices, including food choices and physical activity
• An estimated 30% of U.S. children do not exercise three or more times a week.
• 70% of U.S. children do not get the daily recommended amount of fruits and vegetables.

2007 Rates of Overweight and Obese Children:

National Conference of State Legislature, N. (2012). Childhood obesity trends-state rates. Retrieved from www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/childhood-obesity-trends-state-rates.apx 

Childhood obesity and overweight have reached Epidemic proportions

• Childhood obesity rates are higher among non-hispanic Blacks, American Indian and Mexican Americans than in whites.
• Hospital charges with obesity associated factors were higher among pediatric patients than those that were non obesity related.
• Multi-level and Environmental Interventions are becoming a focus on preventing childhood obesity.
• Low socioeconomic status is associated with excess risk of obesity among children.
• There is a lot of research being done on how race/ethnicity and SES predispose children to becoming obese.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2008, May). Working group report on future research directions in childhood obesity. Retrieved from www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/workshops/child-obesity/index.htm