Childhood Obesity

What is Childhood Obesity? 

Childhood obesity is a medical condition in which a child is above a healthy weight for their age, height, and sex. Medically it is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex in children 2 years and older. 

Generally it can be caused by many factors, which can include genetics, family and home environments, social determinants of health, cultural factors, lifestyle factors and choices, and other health conditions. 

Why should we care? 

Childhood obesity is an ongoing and growing issue, according to the CDC, in the U.S., about 1 in 5 children and adolescents have obesity. Also according to the CDC, "From 2017 to March 2020, the prevalence of obesity among U.S. children and adolescents was 19.7%1. This means that approximately 14.7 million U.S. youths aged 2–19 years have obesity." 

Obesity is also known to affect some groups more than others, including adolescents, Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children, and children in families with lower incomes. Health care for obesity is expensive, which is why it is important to learn preventative measures before reaching the point of need for healthcare.

Obesity can also lead to a series of serious health problems such as, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure, joint pain, breathing problems, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and mental health issues. 

Sources : 

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, November 16). Childhood obesity. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-obesity/symptoms-causes/syc-20354827

What causes childhood obesity?. Cleveland Clinic. (2024, September 13). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9467-obesity-in-children 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Childhood obesity facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/php/data-research/childhood-obesity-facts.html