Childhood obesity is a complex health condition that has many causes. If your child’s weight is putting their health at risk, their healthcare provider can recommend a robust treatment plan to improve their physical health and well-being.
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Childhood obesity is a complex chronic (long-term) condition that happens when your child is above a healthy weight for their age, height and sex assigned at birth.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
The medical definition of childhood obesity is having a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex in children aged 2 years and older.
Children’s BMI factors differ from adults. For children, BMI is age- and sex-specific because their body compositions naturally change as they age. Healthcare providers use special growth charts to assess a healthy BMI for children.
Obesity is one of the most common childhood chronic conditions.
According to studies the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted from 2017 to 2020, obesity affected about 19.7% of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years in the United States. That’s about 14.7 million children and adolescents.
Childhood obesity affects the following age groups:
Childhood obesity is more common among certain populations. It affects:
Lastly, having overweight and obesity are more common in children who:
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Childhood obesity is a complex condition that has many contributing factors.
Your child needs a certain amount of calories for growth and development. But when they take in more calories than they use, their body stores the extra calories as body fat (adipose tissue).
Several factors also affect how much food we eat, the type of food we eat and how our body uses that energy. Every child’s body — and situation — is unique. Some children are at a greater risk for weight gain than others. Obesity doesn’t develop from laziness or a lack of willpower.
Genetic factors can increase the likelihood that your child will have obesity. Children whose biological parents or siblings have obesity may be more likely to develop the condition themselves. Studies show that various genes may contribute to weight gain. But not all children with a family history of obesity will develop it.
Epigenetics is the study of how your behaviors and environment can affect the way your genes work. People, including children, who experience adversity — like racism or violence — can have changes in their genes that affect their immune system and metabolism. These changes can increase your child’s risk for having obesity due to how their body uses energy.
Other epigenetic factors that may increase your child’s risk for having obesity include:
Shared family behaviors and home environment factors can contribute to childhood obesity, including:
Social determinants of health (SDoHs) are the conditions in the environments where you’re born, live, learn, work and play that can affect your health.
Where your family lives can have a direct effect on your child’s risk of developing obesity. The foods and drinks that schools and daycare centers serve your child affect their eating patterns. They also contribute to the amount of physical activity your child gets every day. Other socioeconomic factors that contribute to childhood obesity include:
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Advertising for fast food restaurants and unhealthy foods and beverages can contribute to childhood obesity. Children see advertising for these foods through commercials on TV and advertisements online and in grocery stores.
Studies show that even a brief exposure to unhealthy food and beverage marketing targeted at children resulted in increased food intake during and after the exposure.
Rarely, other health conditions may be a contributing factor to childhood obesity.
Hormonal imbalances that can contribute to childhood obesity include:
Rare genetic conditions that can contribute to childhood obesity include:
Some medications, like second-generation antipsychotics and corticosteroids, can also increase your child’s risk for having overweight and obesity.
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Children who have obesity have a higher risk of developing various health conditions. The most common complications include:
Other complications include:
In addition, children who have obesity are at a higher risk of experiencing:
Children who have obesity are more likely to carry the condition over into adulthood.
Your child’s pediatrician will recommend tests to screen for these complications and will offer treatment plans if any of them arise.
Pediatricians typically diagnose overweight and obesity at well-child checks. They use BMI-for-age growth charts to measure size and growth patterns in children.
A high BMI may be a sign of high body fat. BMI doesn’t measure body fat directly. But it alerts your child’s provider that your child may need more tests to see if excess body fat is an issue. BMI percentile cutoffs define a level above which your child may be more likely to develop weight-related health issues.
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Your child’s pediatrician will do a physical exam and ask you questions about your child’s health history, behaviors and environment. They’ll likely order other tests, like blood or imaging tests, to check for possible underlying causes of obesity and/or any obesity-related health conditions.
Your child’s healthcare provider will determine if your child’s health is at risk due to their weight. If this is the case, you may want to consider a formal treatment program.
Obesity treatment programs should have a variety of health professionals on the staff. The best programs may include:
Comprehensive obesity treatment typically includes:
Experts in childhood obesity highly recommend the use of intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT). This treatment educates and supports families in nutrition and physical activity changes that promote long-term health.
IHBLT is most often effective when it:
There’s no simple way to prevent childhood obesity. And it’s important to remember that preventing childhood obesity isn’t just your and your family’s responsibility — it’s the collective responsibility of federal and local governments, schools, communities and corporations. Several genetic and medication-based factors contribute to obesity as well. These factors are outside of your control.
One step you can take is to establish healthy eating habits and physical activity early. The eating habits your child picks up when they’re young will help them maintain a healthy lifestyle when they’re adults. If you’re unsure how to select and prepare a variety of foods for your family, ask your child’s healthcare provider. They can refer you to a registered dietitian for nutrition counseling. They can also point you in the direction of resources in your community that offer healthy food options.
Other recommendations for childhood obesity prevention include:
Check with your pediatrician for more information about these and other health-promoting recommendations.
The most important thing you can do to help your child is to focus on their health, not their weight. It’s very important that you support your child in their journey toward better health. Your child’s feelings about themselves are often based on your feelings about them. If you accept your child at any weight, they’ll be more likely to feel good about themselves. Avoid placing blame on your child, yourself or others.
It’s also important to talk to your child about their weight in a nonjudgmental way. You should allow your child to share their concerns with you. You can help your child by gradually changing your family's physical activity and eating habits. That way your entire family can benefit from new healthy behaviors.
There are many ways to involve the entire family, but increasing physical activity is especially important. Aim for your child to get at least one hour of regular physical activity each day. Some ways to accomplish this include:
Other approaches you can take to help your child include:
It’s important to keep your child’s well-child appointments and to attend all appointments related to obesity treatment. Your child’s healthcare provider can support you and your child on their journey toward a healthy future.
It’s easy to feel guilty or responsible for your child having obesity due to the widespread stigma and misinformation around this complex condition. But it’s important to remember that countless factors contribute to childhood obesity — many of which may be outside of your control. The good news is that there are steps you and your family can take to support your child’s health. If you’re worried your child may have obesity, reach out to their healthcare provider. They can help develop a plan to limit or reverse the possible complications of having obesity.
Last reviewed on 02/21/2024.
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