Children under 5 years of age
For children under five years of age, overweight and obesity are defined based on body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated by dividing a child’s weight in kilograms by his/her height in meters squared. Overweight is defined as being above the 85th percentile for BMI among children of the same sex and age. Obesity is defined as being above 95th percentile for BMI among boys and girls of the same age and sex.
Children aged between 5–19 years
Overweight and obesity are defined differently for children aged between 5-19 years compared to adults. Children under 19 years old are considered overweight or obese if they are either overweight or obese. This is because there are different definitions for overweight and obesity based on age. For example, a child aged between 5–9 years is considered overweight if his/her body mass index (BMI) is between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2. A child aged 10–14 years is considered overweight if he/she has a BMI between 30 and 34.9 kg/m².
A child aged 15–19 years is considered overweight if she/he has a BMI between 35 and 39.9 kg/m^2. Obesity is calculated similarly except it uses a lower limit of 30 kg/m². In addition, a child aged 5–9 years is classified as obese if her/his BMI is greater than 40 kg/m². A child aged 10-14 years is classified as obese when his/her BMI is greater than 35 kg/m². Finally, a child aged 15–19 is classified as obese when he/she has a body mass index (Bmi) greater than 40 kg/ m².
Too Many Kids Are Too Heavy, Too Young
Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public-health challenges we face today. A recent report from the World Health Organization found that childhood obesity is now the number-one global nutrition challenge, surpassing undernutrition. (6) And it’s getting worse. In fact, over the next 10 years, unless something changes dramatically, childhood obesity could become the leading cause of death worldwide. (7)
The problem is especially acute among young people. Today, about half of American kids aged 2 to 19 are either overweight or obese, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (8) This figure is even higher in some states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. (9)
In addition to being unhealthy, child obesity puts children at greater risk for many chronic diseases later in life. For example, heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, orthopedic problems, and depression are just a few conditions linked to excess weight. (10)
But while our understanding of how to prevent and treat obesity has improved greatly in recent decades, progress has been slow.
What are common health consequences of overweight and obesity?
According to WHO estimates, around 40% of adults aged 18+ worldwide are overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) while 13% are obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risks of many chronic conditions including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, arthritis, asthma and depression.
Overweight and obesity are among the most preventable causes of premature morbidity and mortality globally. In addition to causing physical problems, being overweight or obese can lead to serious psychological problems such as low self-esteem, poor body image and social isolation. These factors increase the likelihood of developing unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, alcohol consumption and lack of exercise.
Childhood Obesity and Parent Responsibility
The rate of childhood obesity in America increased from 4.7% in 1997 to 5.6% in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This represents about one in 20 kids. And it’s getting worse, says Dr. David Katz, director of Yale University’s Center for Weight Loss Surgery. “We are seeing increases in both frequency and severity of cases,” he told NBC News BETTER. “And we are seeing increasing numbers of obese adolescents and adults.”
Experts say the coronavirus pandemic led to a spike in stress-related eating and a drop in physical activity among many families. In addition, some schools closed early due to concerns around the spread of COVID-19, which could mean less time spent playing outside. All of these factors combined to contribute to an uptick in childhood obesity, according to experts.
Parents, physicians and educators can help combat childhood obesity, too. For example, experts recommend limiting screen time — including TV, video games and social media — to no more than 2 hours per day. Parents should make sure their child gets enough sleep each night, and limit sugar intake. Some schools are offering free fitness classes and encouraging students to walk to school.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 17% of American adults are considered obese. In 2016, 35 states had adult obesity rates above 30%.
In some areas, the numbers are even worse. For instance, Mississippi tops the list with 39.3% of adults being obese. California follows closely behind with 38.8%, followed by Louisiana at 37.6%, Alabama at 36.5%, Texas at 34.7%, Florida at 33.9%, Georgia at 32.4%, New York at 31.4%, Kentucky at 29.2%, Illinois at 28.1% and Michigan at 27.8%.
Childhood Obesity Statistics
The prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States has more than tripled over the last four decades from 5 percent in 1978 to 18.5 percent in 2016.
The study, published online today in JAMA Pediatrics, found that children who were obese at age 2 had a higher risk for being overweight or obese as adults compared with those who were not obese at age 2.
“Our findings suggest that early life obesity may be an important contributor to adult obesity and its associated health risks,” said lead author Dr. David Allison, director of the Center for Childhood Obesity Research at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
“We know that there is no single cause of obesity, but we do know that it is linked to many factors including genetics, environment and behaviors,” said co-author Dr. Michael Siegel, professor of community health sciences at Boston University School of Public Health. “This research adds to our understanding of how these factors interact to affect weight gain during childhood.”
In addition to being overweight or obese, children who are also exposed to obesogenic environments — such as living in poverty, having parents who smoke cigarettes, and eating fast food frequently — have a greater chance of becoming obese as adults.
Obesity rates among U.S. children have increased dramatically since 1980, when about 7 percent of children ages 6 to 11 years were considered obese. By 2014, nearly one out of every three children was classified as obese.
Obesity is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2. A BMI above 30 indicates obesity.
Children who were born into families with low incomes, mothers who smoked during pregnancy, and those whose fathers did not graduate high school were all more likely to become obese as adults.
The researchers analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort, which included information on approximately 20,000 children born in 1979. Participants were followed up through 2011.
Of the participants, 9,835 were normal weight at birth and 1,711 were obese at birth. Of the normal-weight group, 8,922 remained normal weight and 1,013 became obese as adults. Among the obese group, 1,071 remained obese and 1,040 became nonobese as adults.
Among the children who were obese at birth, 26 percent ended up being obese as adults. For those who were not obese, only 10 percent developed obesity later in life.
“These results show that even if you start off with a healthy weight, your chances of becoming obese increase if you live in an obesogenic environment,” said coauthor Dr. Jennifer L. Raffel, associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.
While this study focused on obesity, previous studies have shown that children who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and other chronic diseases as they get older.
“It is critical to understand what influences childhood obesity so we can design interventions to prevent future problems,” said colead author Dr. Sarah E. Kahn, assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Children grow at different rates at different times, so it is not always easy to tell if a child is overweight. A child’s health care professional should evaluate the child’s BMI, growth, and potential health risks due to excess body weight.
“If a parent sees their child has gained too much weight over time, they may want to talk to their doctor about whether their child needs to lose weight,” said lead author Dr. Elizabeth J. Gortmaker, assistant professor of public health at Columbia University Mailman.
We find that the prevalence of obesity has diverged by race and gender in recent years, especially among children entering kindergarten. Compared with 5-year-olds in 1997, 5-year-olds in 2010 were 2 percentage points more likely to be obese overall. Black and Hispanic 5-year-olds were 5 and 3 percentage points more likely to be obese, respectively, while whites had a 1 percentage point increase in obesity. However, overall and among all subgroups the rate of growth in obesity from kindergarten through 3rd grade has declined in recent years.
This research was funded by grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health.
Childhood Obesity in America
The CDC estimates that 17% of American children ages 6–19 are obese. This number has been increasing since 1980. About 1 in 5 american children has childhood obesity Obesity increases the risk of many serious health conditions including high blood pressure, Type II Diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma, arthritis, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, some cancers, and depression.
Obesity also places a significant burden on society. In addition to the direct medical costs associated with treating these conditions, obesity contributes to increased healthcare spending because people with obesity tend to use more healthcare services than people without obesity. The estimated annual cost of obesity in the United States is $147 billion.
Childhood obesity is a major public health problem. It is important to identify factors that influence the development of obesity in order to help reduce its prevalence.
Prevalence Of Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 95th percentile for age and sex. Children who are underweight are considered to be ‘undernourished’ and those who are severely obese are considered to be “morbidly obese.”
In this study, researchers used data collected between 1997 and 2011 from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Class of 1998 (ECLS-K). Researchers analyzed information from parents or guardians of nearly 10,000 children who participated in the survey. Parents reported height and weight measurements for each child every year from kindergarten through third grade.
Researchers found that the prevalence of obesity among children aged 5–6 has remained stable since 1997, but there has been an increase in the proportion of overweight children. Among children aged 7–8, the prevalence of obesity has decreased slightly, but the proportion of overweight children has increased. By 9th grade, the prevalence of obesity among boys and girls has stabilized at approximately 20%. Researchers also found that the prevalence of overweight among black and Hispanic children has increased significantly compared to white children. For example, the prevalence of overweight among Hispanic children rose from 25% in 1997 to 31% in 2010. Overweight rates among black children have risen from 26% in 1997 to 34% in 2010.
Although the prevalence of obesity among preschoolers has not changed much over time, the rate of growth in childhood obesity appears to have slowed down. From kindergarten through 3rd grade, the prevalence of overweight children has dropped from 30% to 23%, and the prevalence of obese children has dropped from 15% to 11%.
Race And Gender Differences In Prevalence Of Obesity
When looking at racial differences in the prevalence of obesity, researchers found that black children were significantly more likely to be obese compared to white children. For example, in 1997, about 12% of black children were obese, compared to 8% of white children. By 2010, the rates had almost doubled: 25% of black children were classified as obese, compared to 16% of white children.
The same trend was seen when comparing Hispanic and non-Hispanic children. In 1997, 13% of Hispanic children were obese, compared with 9% of non-Hispanic children. By 2010, however, the rates had risen to 19% of Hispanic children being obese, compared to 14% of non-Hispanic kids.
The gender difference in the prevalence of obesity was less pronounced. In 1997, about 10% of male children were obese, while only 6% of female children were obese. By 2010, the percentage of obese males had dropped to 8%, while the percentage of obese females had increased to 9%.