Childhood obesity continues to be a serious health issue in the United States and worldwide. A main cause of childhood obesity is the behavior children pick up from their parents and caregivers. You can prevent childhood obesity by teaching your child about healthy eating habits and encouraging them to stay physically active.
Childhood obesity is a complex disease that can occur when your child is above a healthy weight for their age and height. The medical definition of childhood obesity is having a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) specific growth charts. Children’s BMI factors differ from adults. For children, BMI is age- and sex-specific because their body compositions vary as they age. They also vary between children assigned male at birth and children assigned female at birth.
You can calculate your child’s BMI by dividing their weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared (kg/m2). For instance, if your 10-year-old child weighs 102 pounds (46.2 kg) and is 56 inches tall (1.4 m), their BMI would be 23.6 kg/m2. This places them in the 95th percentile for BMI-for-age, which means they have obesity.
Healthcare providers 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 healthcare provider your child may need more tests to see if excess fat is a problem. BMI percentile cutoffs define a level above which your child may be more likely to develop weight-related health issues.
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The facts about childhood obesity are clear. Childhood obesity in the United States is a serious public health problem. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the United States has obesity. Children who have obesity are more likely to carry the condition over into adulthood.
Children who have obesity are at a higher risk of developing many health conditions. These conditions include:
In addition, children who have obesity are at a higher risk of experiencing:
According to the most recent statistics from the CDC, childhood obesity continues to rise. Recent statistics show:
Overall, 19.3% of children, or 14.4 million children in the United States, have obesity.
Childhood obesity can affect any child, but it’s more common among certain groups. Socioeconomic status and ethnicity continue to play a role in the frequency of childhood obesity.
Recent statistics show rates of childhood obesity dropped as the head of a household’s level of education increased. In the lowest income group, 18.9% of children and adolescents had obesity. In the highest income group, 10.9% of children and adolescents had obesity.
In addition, statistics show childhood obesity affects:
Childhood obesity is a complicated disease that has many contributing factors. It’s not laziness or a lack of willpower. 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 fat. Children gain excess weight for many of the same reasons adults do. Causes of childhood obesity include:
Shared family behaviors such as eating habits and being inactive can contribute to childhood obesity. The balance of calories consumed with calories burned plays a role in determining your child’s weight.
Busy families are consuming more foods and beverages high in fat, sugar and calories. These foods and beverages tend to be low in vitamins, minerals and other vital nutrients. At the same time, many children are spending less time outdoors and more time indoors being inactive. As video games, tablets and smartphones continue to grow in popularity, the number of hours of inactivity may only increase.
Genetic factors can increase the likelihood that a child will have obesity. Children whose parents or siblings have obesity may be at an increased risk of developing the condition themselves. Studies have shown various genes may contribute to weight gain. Although weight problems run in families, not all children with a family history of obesity will develop it.
Where your child lives can have a direct effect on their risk of developing obesity. The foods and drinks that schools and daycare centers serve your child have a direct effect on their diet. They also contribute to the amount of physical activity your child gets every day. Other socioeconomic factors that contribute to childhood obesity include:
Advertising for fast food chains and unhealthy snack foods can contribute to childhood obesity. Children see commercials on TV and advertisements splashed across billboards in their neighborhoods. More often than not, these foods have lots of calories and/or come in large portion sizes.
A combination of these factors can cause childhood obesity. Hormone disorders are another risk factor for childhood obesity. However, diseases are rarely the cause of childhood obesity. A physical examination and some blood tests will rule out the possibility of a medical condition. Some medications can increase the risk for increased body weight and obesity.
It’s important to seek medical help if you’re worried about your child’s condition. Your child’s healthcare provider can help you determine whether your child has obesity. They may use a BMI-for-age growth chart to see if your child is at a healthy weight.
If your child’s healthcare provider determines your child has obesity, they can help you come up with a healthy weight loss plan. They may talk to you about healthy food choices and the right amount of physical activity for your child. If necessary, they’ll refer you to a weight management program that’s suitable for your child.
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:
Make the most of the opportunities you have with your family to be healthier and more active.
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.
Do not place your child on a restrictive diet to lose weight. You should only place your child on a diet if their healthcare provider supervises one for medical reasons. Restrictive diets are hard to stay on and can lead to eating disorders and disordered eating patterns.
One way to begin teaching healthy eating habits is to serve a variety of fruits and vegetables to your family. Provide a “rainbow” of fruits and vegetables with every meal, including snacks. Avoid sugary drinks like soda, sweet tea, lemonade and sports drinks. The average child takes in more than 120 calories per day from these drinks alone.
Other approaches you can take to help your child include:
There aren’t any simple solutions to tackle childhood obesity. But parents and caregivers can help with childhood obesity prevention in many ways. Ways you can prevent childhood obesity include:
If your efforts at home don’t help your child reach a healthy weight, make a call to your child’s healthcare provider. If they determine your child’s health is at risk unless they lose weight, you may want to consider a formal treatment program.
You should look for certain characteristics when choosing a weight management program for your child. The program should have a variety of health professionals on the staff. The best programs may include:
Other features you should look for when selecting a weight management program for your child include:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Childhood obesity is a complex disease that can lead to lifelong complications. Seeing your child deal with weight issues can feel heartbreaking. It’s important to support your child no matter their weight. Focus on their health and encourage them by explaining why you want them to stay healthy. If you’re worried your child may have obesity, reach out to their healthcare provider. Their provider can help you determine if your child’s weight is something to worry about. They can help you develop a plan to get your family back on track with healthy eating habits and increased physical activity.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/26/2022.
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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