Obesity in children

Obesity is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Data from NHANES surveys (1976-1980 and 2003-2006) show that the prevalence of obesity has increased: for children aged 2-5 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 12.4%; for those aged 6-11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 17.0%; and for those aged 12-19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.6%.

Healthy People 2010 identified overweight and obesity as 1 of 10 leading health indicators of premature death and called for a reduction in the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese.  Progress toward reducing the national prevalence of overweight and obesity is monitored using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

The most recent NHANES data (2003–2006) showed that for children aged 6-11 years and 12-19 years, the prevalence of overweight was 17.0% and 17.6% respectively.  These prevalence figures are more than three times the target prevalence of 5% set in Healthy People 2010.   

Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S. Children and Adolescents (Aged 2 –19 Years) National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

*Sex-and age-specific BMI > 95th percentile based on the CDC growth charts

In 2010 The Journal of the American Medical Associan (JAMA) examined trends in obesity from 1999-2008 and the current prevalence of obesity and overweight for 2007-2008. The results showed prevalence of obesity was 32.2% among adult men and 35.5% among adult women. The increases in the prevalence of obesity previously observed do not appear to be continuing at the same rate over the past 10 years, particularly for women and possibly for men¹.

¹ JAMA. 2010;303(3):235-241. Published online January 13, 2010 (doi:10.1001/jama.2009.2014)