The United States obesity epidemic has affected children of both genders in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. In general, children with a body mass index at or above the 95th percentile are obese. BMI estimates body fat, but it does not measure muscle, so some children with high BMIs might not be obese if they have significant muscle weight.
Age Groups
According to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is on the rise for all age groups. For children aged 2 to 5, obesity increased from 5 percent to 10.4 percent from 1980 to 2008. Obesity among children from 6 to 11 increased from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 19.6 percent in 2008. Among adolescents from 12 to 19, obesity increased from 5 percent in 1980 to 18.1 percent in 2008.
Race and Ethnicity
Obesity rates have increased for all races. As of 2008, African-Americans, Mexican Americans and Native Americans have the highest rates of obesity. In 2000, the prevalence of obesity was 19 percent non-Hispanic black children and 20 percent Mexican American children, compared with 11 percent of non-Hispanic white children, cites the CDC. In Asian Americans, only 10 percent of boys and 4 percent of girls were obese. Severe obesity -- defined as a BMI equal to or greater than 30 -- was highest in Native American boys, at 39 percent. For non-Hispanic white and African-American boys, the rate was 14 percent each. For girls, the rate of severe obesity was 14 percent for Native Americans, 10 percent for non-Hispanic whites and 18 percent for African-Americans.
Health Problems
Obese children are more likely to have a number of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, joint problems, sleep apnea and social and psychological problems. In a population-based sample of obese 5- to 17-year-olds, 70 percent had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, cites the CDC. Additionally, obese children are more likely to be obese or overweight in their adult years and suffer from weight-related complications as adults, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer and osteoarthritis. One study cited by the CDC found that 80 percent of children who were overweight at ages 10 to 15 were obese at 25.
Causes
In addition to genetics, medical problems and overeating, inadequate physical activity contributes to obesity in children. According to data from the 2003 to 2006 and 2007 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, only 42 percent of children from 6 to 11 received the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity a day. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children over age 2 watch no more than one to two hours of television a day, yet children 7 and older spend an average of five and a half hours a day in front of television and computer screens, says KidsHealth.org. Children who spend more than four hours a day in front of a television screen are more likely to be obese than children who watch two hours or less a day.
References
- KidsHealth.org: Overweight and Obesity
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Childhood Obesity
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Childhood Overweight and Obesity
- "Diabetes Care": Influence of Race, Ethnicity, and Culture on Childhood Obesity: Implications for Prevention and Treatment: Sonia Caprio, et al.: November 2008
- WIN Weight-Control Information Network: Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity
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