Childhood Obesity

 CHILDHOOD OBESITY has become a health crisis in the U.S. across all socioeconomic levels. CDC statistics from 2017 through 2020 indicate the following for children and adolescents ages two through 19:

• Obesity prevalence was 19.7 percent and affected about 14.7 million children and adolescents.
• Obesity prevalence was 12.7 percent among 2- to 5-year-olds, 20.7 percent among 6- to 11-year olds, and 22.2 percent among 12- to 19-year-olds.
• Among Hispanic children, obesity prevalence was 26.2 percent; non-Hispanic Black children, 24.8 percent; non-Hispanic White children, 16.6 percent; and non-Hispanic Asian children, 9.0 percent.
• Obesity-related conditions include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems (such as asthma and sleep apnea), and joint problems.1

Pediatric healthcare practitioners are on the frontlines communicating with patients and families to combat this unhealthy trend. Read more here.