The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6-11 has more than doubled in the past 20 years and among adolescents aged 12-19 has more than tripled according to a recent study. Children and adolescents are more likely to become overweight adults if they are obese as a child.
One out of every five children who are obese falls in the 94th percentile on the charts of the CDC, which means 25-30% of the children in the United States are overweight, less than 40% of these children meet the U.S. dietary guidelines for saturated fats which is a major cause for obesity. Underlying diseases such as Hypothyroidism and metabolic disorders causes 5% of obesity. Only a physician or health care worker can diagnose a child with obesity. It has no bearing on race, gender or age.
The risk factors of childhood obesity is an increase in type 2 diabetes, hypertension, CV disease, social isolation, low self esteem and depression according to Dr. Bell, a local pediatrician in Jacksonville,......
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