Tuesday, November 21, 2006

The Drastic Increase of Childhood Obesity

Roughly 15.3% of children (aged 6-11) suffer from childhood obesity as do about 15.5% of adolescents. The rise in these percentages has been drastic over the past two decades.


Prevalence of Obese Children
(Ages 6 to 11) at the
95th percentile of
Body Mass Index (BMI)
1999 to 2000 15.3%
1988 to 1994 11%
1976 to 1980 7%


Prevalence of Obese Adolescents
(Ages 12 to 19) at the
95th percentile of
Body Mass Index (BMI)
1999 to 2000 15.5%
1988 to 1994 11%
1976 to 1980 5%


The 95th percentile is used as a reference point for childhood obesity. So as you can see childhood obesity has risen over 10% in 12-19 year olds and over 8% in children aged 6-11. In theory at the rate of increases continues then within two decades over 30% of children will suffer from childhood obesity.

Refrence- American Obesity Asociation-http://www.obesity.org/subs/childhood/

1 comment:

weight loss said...

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