Childhood Obesity Facts

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In the United States, the percentage of children and adolescents affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s.1 Data from 2015-2016 show that nearly 1 in 5 school age children and young people (6 to 19 years) in the United States has obesity.2

Many factors contribute to childhood obesity, including:3-8

  • Genetics
  • Metabolism—how your body changes food and oxygen into energy it can use.
  • Eating and physical activity behaviors.
  • Community and neighborhood design and safety.
  • Short sleep duration.
  • Negative childhood events

Genetic factors are difficult to change. However, people and places can play a role in helping children achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Changes in the environments where young people spend their time—like homes, schools, and community settings—can make it easier for youth to access nutritious foods and be physically active. Schools can adopt policies and practices that help young people eat more fruits and vegetables, eat fewer foods and beverages that are high in added sugars or solid fats, and increase daily minutes of physical activity.4,9-14  These kinds of school-based and after-school programs and policies can be cost-effective and even cost-saving.12-14

For more information about childhood obesity, visit Child & Teen Healthy Weight and Obesity.

  1. Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Ogden CL. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents: United States, 1963-1965 through 2011-2012. Health E-Stats. 2014. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_11_12/obesity_child_11_12.htm. Accessed December 21, 2017.
  2. Hales CM, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. Prevalence of obesity among adults and youth: United States, 2015–2016. NCHS Data Brief. 2017;288:1–8.
  3. Swinburn BA, Sacks G, Hall KD, et al. The global obesity pandemic: shaped by global drivers and local environments. Lancet. 2011;378(9793):804–814.
  4. Institute of Medicine. Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2012.
  5. Han JC, Lawlor DA, Kimm SY. Childhood obesity. Lancet. 2010;375(9727):1737–1748.
  6. Eisenburg LK, can Wijk KJE, Liefbroer AC, Smidt N. Accumulation of adverse childhood events and overweight in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity. 2017; 25(5): 820-832.
  7. Danese A, Tan M. Childhood maltreatment and obesity: systematic review and meta-analysis. Mol Psychiatry 2014;19:544–54.
  8. Fatima Y, Doi SAR, Mamun AA. Longitudinal impact of sleep on overweight and obesity in children and adolescents: a systematic review and bias-adjusted meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2015;15(2):137–149.
  9. US Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation. Rockville, MD: US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2010.
  10. Micha R, Karageorgou D, Bakogianni I, et al. Effectiveness of school food environment policies on children’s dietary behaviors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE 2018; 13(3): e0194555.
  11. The Community Guide. Interventions to increase healthy eating and physical activity in schools. 2019. https://www.thecommunityguide.org/content/interventions-increase-healthy-eating-and-physical-activity-schoolsexternal icon. Accessed April 16, 2019
  12. Lobstein T, Jackson-Leach R, Moddie Ml et al. Child and adolescent obesity: part of a bigger picture. Obesity. 2015: 385 (9986): 2510-2520.
  13. Gortmarker SL, Want CY, Long MW et al. Three interventions that reduce childhood obesity are projected to save more than they cost to implement. Health Affairs. 2015; 11(34): 1932-1939.
  14. Cradock AL, Barrett JL, Kenney EL. Using cost-effectiveness analysis to prioritize policy and programmatic approaches to physical activity promotion and obesity prevention in childhood. Prev Med. 2017; 95 (S): S17-27.

Page last reviewed: April 29, 2019
Content source: Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion