Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last 30 years in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This increase in childhood obesity leads to increased healthcare costs and increased health risks in childhood and into adulthood. With the obesity rates in U.S. children increasing at this alarming rate, medical and government agencies have implemented plans and made recommendations to help combat the obesity epidemic.
Prevalence
The CDC reports that in children ages 6 to 11, the prevalence of obesity increased from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 19.6 percent in 2008. In adolescents between ages 12 and 19, the obesity rate increased from 5 percent to 18.1 percent during those same years. Overall, results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicate that approximately 17 percent of children and adolescents between ages 2 and 19 are obese.
Costs
Hospital costs associated with treating childhood obesity-related conditions increased from $35 million in 1979 to approximately $127 million in 1999, according to the Get American Fit Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing awareness to healthy lifestyle habits. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that the total cost of obesity for both children and adults in 2000 was estimated to be $117 billion, of which direct medical costs totaled $61 billion.
Risks into Adulthood
Obese children and teens are more likely to become obese adults and suffer from related health consequences. The CDC states that 80 percent of children who were overweight between ages 10 and 15 were obese at age 25. A 1997 study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine" also concluded that being overweight or obese as a child increases the chances of becoming an obese adult and also found that having at least one parent who is obese significantly increases the risk of a child developing obesity.
Recommendations
Becoming overweight or obese is generally caused by a lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating habits and, potentially, other genetic and lifestyle factors, reports the Surgeon General's Office. Visiting with your doctor can help you develop a plan to promote better health for you and your family. Setting a good example of living a healthy lifestyle, including good eating and exercise habits, can help your children understand the importance of making healthy choices from a young age.
References
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Childhood Obesity
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Childhood Overweight and Obesity
- Get American Fit Foundation: Obesity Related Statistics in America
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Childhood Obesity
- "New England Journal of Medicine": Predicting Obesity in Young Adulthood from Childhood and Parental Obesity; Robert C. Whitaker, M.D., M.P.H., et al., 1997
- The Office of the Surgeon General: Call To Action To Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity
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