Overweight or Obesity - Youth

Overweight or Obesity - Youth in United States

United States

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the prevalence of childhood obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s. Children who have obesity are more likely to have obesity as adults compared with children and adolescents who do not have obesity. Overweight or obesity in childhood is associated with physical, social and psychological health issues during adolescence and adulthood. Some of the associated health issues include: substance misuse in adulthood, increased risk of disordered eating behaviors and chronic diseases as well as poor self-esteem. Weight stigma, also known as weight-based discrimination or weight bias, can also negatively impact a child’s psychological and physical health. 

Childhood obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) value at or above the 95th percentile based on age and sex, while overweight is defined as a BMI value at or above the 85th percentile and less than the 95th percentile. 

The lifetime direct medical costs for a child with obesity is an estimated $19,000 more than a child without obesity.

 The prevalence of obesity is higher among:

• Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic youth compared with non-Hispanic Asian and non-Hispanic white youth.
• Youth ages 6-19 compared with children ages 2-5.
• Children who live in lower-income households compared with those who live in higher-income households.
• Children who have a less-educated head of household compared with those with a more-educated head of household.

According to the World Health Organization, the two most important means of preventing childhood obesity are healthy eating and physical activity. These behaviors have many different societal influences, including families, schools, health care providers and communities, as well as government agencies, media and food and beverage industries. 

Many studies have identified comprehensive school-based approaches effective at preventing obesity. However, often schools implement non-evidence based programs that may lead to worsening of weight stigma among children in school. 

Families can support children at home — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides tips for parents to help children maintain a healthy weight. The CDC also provides state licensing scorecards that show how well the early care and education programs meet obesity prevention standards. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides resources on weight management and healthy living for youth.

Healthy People 2030 has an objective to reduce childhood obesity.

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Simone, Melissa, Laura Hooper, Marla E. Eisenberg, and Dianne Neumark-Sztainer. “Unhealthy Weight Control Behaviors and Substance Use among Adolescent Girls: The Harms of Weight Stigma.” Social Science & Medicine 233 (July 1, 2019): 64–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.05.047.

Tomiyama, A. Janet, Deborah Carr, Ellen M. Granberg, Brenda Major, Eric Robinson, Angelina R. Sutin, and Alexandra Brewis. “How and Why Weight Stigma Drives the Obesity ‘Epidemic’ and Harms Health.” BMC Medicine 16, no. 1 (August 15, 2018): 123. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1116-5.

Wang, Youfa, Li Cai, Yang Wu, Renee F. Wilson, Christine M. Weston, Oluwakemi Akindeju Fawole, Sara N. Bleich, et al. “What Childhood Obesity Prevention Programmes Work? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Childhood Obesity Prevention.” Obesity Reviews 16, no. 7 (July 2015): 547–65. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12277.

World Health Organization. Population-Based Approaches to Childhood Obesity Prevention. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press, 2012. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/80149/9789241504782_eng.pdf.