 The prevalence of overweight and obese children has risen dramatically and at alarming rates for the past few decades in the United States. Thirty percent of children have been found to be affected with overweight problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics in 2003, studied the overweight and obesity problem and concluded that prevalence of overweight and obesity and their significant associated medical problems had reached epidemic proportions. Although up to 30% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese, there is realistically another 30% of these populations that are at great risk of becoming overweight. Another alarming statistic published in December of 2003, was that not only is the prevalence rising at an alarming rate but so is the degree of obesity that these overweight children are achieving. In other words, these children are not only overweight, they are becoming very overweight.
What is further concerning is that today's youth are considered the most inactive generation in US history and this lack of inactivity is going to contribute to weight gain. Other reasons include fewer mandated physical education programs in schools, lack of safe areas to exercise in many inner-city neighborhoods, and the ever-present television set. Energy input (food) has increased remarkably because of the availability of fast-foods that are high in calories and because of an increasing lack of adult supervision in the lives of many children.
Being overweight or obese at any age will increase the likelihood that a person may be overweight or obese later in their lives. While most overweight or obese infants will not remain so, these overweight infants are at increased risk of becoming obese or overweight children. As overweight or obese children, they are more likely to become overweight or obese adolescents, who are then very likely to remain overweight or obese as adults.
The persistence of obesity into adulthood depends on many factors, including the age at which the child becomes obese, the severity of the overweight problem and the presence of obesity in at least one of the parents of the child. An overweight child under the age of three does not predict future overweight problems or obesity, unless at least one parent is also obese. After a child is three years of age, the likelihood that an overweight condition or obesity will persist into adulthood increases with the advancing age of the child. After an obese child reaches six years of age, the probability that obesity will persist exceeds 50 percent. Even more concerning is that 70 to 80 percent of obese adolescents will remain obese as adults. The presence of obesity in at least one parent increases the risk of persistence of obesity in children at every age.
Evaluation of overweight conditions and obesity in childhood is important for many reasons. Having a weight awareness offers the best hope for preventing overweight and obesity disease progression with its associated morbidities into adulthood. While genetic and hormonal causes of obesity are rare, they do warrant consideration for treatment options in obese children. Furthermore, overweight conditions and obesity have a negative impact on the self-esteem of children and adolescents, which may have significant implications for long-term happiness and success in life. Finally, directed weight awareness sessions that emphasize healthy eating and exercise habits for children and their families may have lasting effects on the lifestyle of these patients and their families.
The dramatic increase in the prevalence of childhood weight conditions and the concurrent medical problems are associated with significant health and financial burdens, demanding strong and comprehensive prevention efforts. These efforts must focus not only on preventing, but also early identification of the child at risk for developing a overweight and obese weight problem.
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