Teen obesity is a problem that has been growing in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics show that teenage obesity rates were only about 5 percent in the 1970s, but that rate grew by more than 20 percentage point over the next 35 years. Childhood obesity puts adolescents at a greater risk of developing any number of obesity-related diseases as they become adults, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.
BMI
The U.S. government defines obesity based upon a teen's body mass index, or BMI. Your BMI is a rough measure of your total body fatness. Calculating BMI for teens can be done using an online BMI calculator, such as the one at KidsHealth.org, which is specifically designed for kids aged 2 to 20. Teens with a BMI score of 19 to 27 are considered within the healthy weight range; scores above this range are considered overweight or obese.
2009 Statistics
According to non-profit health organization, Trust for America's Health, or TFAH, obesity rates did not decrease in any of the 50 states between 2008 and 2009. The child and teen obesity rate is above 30 percent in 30 different states. Mississippi shows the highest rate of childhood obesity in the United States at more than 44 percent. The TFAH states that child and adolescent obesity rates have tripled since 1980.
Diet Recommendations
Poor diet is a major cause of teen obesity in America. The National Institutes of Health recommends that teens eat a nutritionally dense, well-balanced diet. This includes eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk products, lean meats, beans, nuts and whole grains. Additionally, teens need to limit their intake of foods high in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt and sugars. Reducing consumption of soda, salty chips, ice cream and snack cakes will help eliminate empty calories.
Exercise Guidelines
Teens also need daily exercise to maintain a healthy weight, according to the CDC. The CDC's recommendation for 2009 includes at least 60 minutes of daily aerobic exercise. As part of this 60 minutes per day, teens should include muscle-strengthening activities such as push-ups and crunches at least three days-a-week. Bone-strengthening activities are also important for teens; the CDC suggests at least three days a week of running, jumping rope or playing a sport such as soccer to improve bone health.
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