Unfortunately, obesity in the United States isn’t just a problem limited to adults. As shown by the facts presented below, many children in the United States are likewise dealing with this problem:
- Since the 1970s, the number of children and adolescents with obesity has increased by more than 300 percent.
- In 2015/2016, approximately one fifth of children aged 6 to 19 qualified as obese.
- Obese children face an elevated threat of numerous health conditions, including type two diabetes and risk factors for heart disease.
- Children struggling with obesity tend to suffer from mental health issues, such as social isolation, depression, and lower self-esteem. This is often due to bullying and teasing related to their weight.
- Children who become obese face an elevated risk of experiencing obesity in their adult years.
- Aside from eating habits, risk factors for childhood obesity include lack of physical activity, metabolic issues, genetics and poor sleeping patterns.
- According to the World Health Organization, some 41 million infants and young children across the world (ages 0 to 5) were considered obese in 2016.
- At present rate, there will be 70 million obese children and infants worldwide by the year 2025.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that childhood obesity rates are higher for Hispanics (25.8%) and non-Hispanic blacks (22.0%) than non-Hispanic whites (14.1%).
- In 2017, nearly 15 percent of all high school students in the United States met the criteria for being obese.
