What does fact checked mean?
At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Overweight and Obesity; April 2011
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Childhood Obesity; June 2010
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Obesity Statistics in Teenagers
Obesity is generally defined as weighing more than 20 percent above the ideal number of pounds for your height and age. The percentage of teens that are overweight or obese has more than doubled in the last three decades. Approximately 12.5 million or 17 percent of children aged 2 through 19 are considered overweight, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Causes
Teen obesity occurs when too few calories are burned for the number of calories consumed. Genetics or family history as well as behavior and environmental factors can influence whether a young person becomes obese. High-calorie fast foods, beverages, more meals eaten in restaurants, and larger, often super-sized portions all may contribute to teen obesity.
Teen diets often don't meet nutrition guidelines. For example, only 8 percent of children in Colorado ate vegetables three or more times per day as recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reports Colorado University Extension Service.
- Teen obesity occurs when too few calories are burned for the number of calories consumed.
- High-calorie fast foods, beverages, more meals eaten in restaurants, and larger, often super-sized portions all may contribute to teen obesity.
Health Effects
Fast Food and Childhood Obesity in America
Learn More
Childhood obesity can have both short- and long-term health consequences 3. Overweight kids are more likely to be overweight in adulthood. In a study published in January 2007 in "Journal of Pediatrics," lead researcher David S. Freedman found that 70 percent of obese children aged 5 to 17 had one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Eight to 45 percent of newly diagnosed cases of Type 2 diabetes are in children and teens, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or NICHHD.
- Childhood obesity can have both short- and long-term health consequences 3.
- In a study published in January 2007 in "Journal of Pediatrics," lead researcher David S. Freedman found that 70 percent of obese children aged 5 to 17 had one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Ethnic Disparities
Teen obesity rates vary significantly among different races, ethnicities and income levels. For example, in 2008, the CDC noted that Hispanic teen boys were more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white boys, while non-Hispanic, black teen girls were more apt to be obese than non-Hispanic white girls. Low-income families may not be able to afford healthier food options such as fruits and vegetables and may not have easy access to safe areas for physical activity.
Prevention
Exercise Facts for Kids
Learn More
Eating a well-balanced diet that includes lean meat, fruits, vegetables and whole grains combined with regular exercise can help prevent overweight and obesity. Small changes, such as eliminating one can of soda per day and spending less time watching TV can contribute to a healthier lifestyle. Children and teenagers should spend 60 minutes a day engaged in some type of physical exercise.
Related Articles
References
- “JAMA;“ Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among US Children, Adolescents, and Adults, 1999-2002; Allison A. Hedley, et al.; 2004
- Healthychildren.org: Obesity; L. Bellows and J. Roach; May 2009
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Childhood Obesity; June 2010
- Vikraman S, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. Caloric intake from fast food among children and adolescents in the United States, 2011 – 2012. NCHS Data Brief No. 213, September 2015.
- American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2015 Daily News. TriStar Publishing, Inc. November 9, 2015.
- Micali N, Field AE, Treasure JL, Evans DM. Are obesity risk genes associated with binge eating in adolescents? Obesity (Silver Spring) 2015;23:1729-36.
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011 – 2012. JAMA. 2014;311(8):806-814.
- Smemo S, Tena JJ, Kim KH, Gamazon ER, et al. Obesity-associated variants within FTO form long-range functional connections with IRX3. Nature 2014;507:371-5.
Resources
Writer Bio
Karen Hellesvig-Gaskell is a broadcast journalist who began writing professionally in 1980. Her writing focuses on parenting and health, and has appeared in “Spirituality & Health Magazine" and “Essential Wellness.” Hellesvig-Gaskell has worked with autistic children at the Fraser School in Minneapolis and as a child care assistant for toddlers and preschoolers at the International School of Minnesota, Eden Prairie.