Obesity in Children

Since the mid-1970s, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults and youth has increased dramatically. Data from the 1976–1980 and 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys show that the prevalence of obesity (BMI of 30 or greater) among adults, 20 to 74 years of age, has increased from 15.0% to 33.8%. Obesity (above the 95th percentile on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] growth charts) among children 2 to 5 years of age has increased from 5.0% to 10.4%. Among children 6 to 11 years of age, obesity has increased from 6.5% to 19.6%, and among adolescents 12 to 19 years of age, it has increased from 5.0% to 18.1%. The prevalence of overweight (defined as between the 85th and 95th ...