Obesity Statistics on Children are Becoming Alarming

As obesity statistics on children continue to show an increasing trend, many are becoming alarmed about the health of our nation’s children.

More and more young children are overweight, or are already classified as obese.

Not only is this unhealthy for them as a child, but it can begin a lifelong struggle with obesity.

One of the websites that you can find obesity statistics is the American Obesity Association site.

This site shows that obesity statistics on children are depicting that obesity is becoming common in children.

Just more than 30 percent of our nation’s children are:

• Overweight (which they define as in the 85th percentile or higher for body mass index (BMI) – correlating to a BMI of 25) and
• Just more than 15 percent are obese (which they define as in the 95th percentile for BMI, or a BMI or 30).

These numbers remain steady in both:

• 6-11 age group and
• 12-19 age group.

Further obesity statistics on children on this site state that those with at least one obese parent have a 79 percent likelihood of struggling with overweight as an adult.

The website for the Centers for Disease Control also contains obesity statistics on children.

Their definition of overweight is:

• Being in the 95th percentile or higher for BMI and
• They prefer not to classify children as obese.

They claim that 16 percent of children 6-19 are overweight, which is very close to the American Obesity Association finding of 15 percent in the 95th percentile and higher.

When you look at the trends in obesity statistics on children in the past three decades, the problem is amplified.

In a study conducted between 1971 and 1974:

• 4.3 percent of boys and
• 3.6 percent of girls were considered to be obese in the 6-11 age group.

In a study conducted between 1999 and 2000 those numbers had increased to:

• 16 percent for boys and
• 14.5 percent for girls.

Why are obesity statistics for children becoming so alarming?

Many believe that it is because:

• Children are not eating healthy diets.
• Their lifestyles have become more inactive.

Fast food has become a staple as busy parents try to balance work and home.

Computer games and television have replaced bike riding and tag.

In other words, children are:

• Eating many more calories than they did in the past.
• Burning a lot fewer calories – a combination for obesity.

If you are a parent looking for obesity statistics on children to help your child stay healthy, we applaud you.

It is important to instill in children at a young age the need to eat healthy foods and get enough physical activity.

You can make this a family affair, by:

• Sitting down to balanced, nutritious meals together.
• Exercising together.

The entire family could go for a walk or a bike ride after dinner.

What you teach your children now about being healthy will help them grow up to be healthy adults.

Start your child on the right path to weight loss starting right now.

Once you see the obesity statistics on children, I know you will help your child overcome their weight issues.

Just follow the advice within this website under childhood obesity.

By working together, we will make a difference.

One child at a time!