Prevalence of Obesity Among U.S. Children and Adolescents (Aged 2-19 Years)

Childhood obesity is a critical public health problem in the United States. Over the past three decades, obesity rates have soared among all age groups, tripling among children ages 6 to 11. Today, more than 23 million children and teenagers are overweight or obese. That’s nearly one in three young people. Among certain racial and ethnic groups, the rates are still higher. Preventing obesity during childhood is critical because habits formed during youth frequently continue well into adulthood. Moreover, overweight and obese children are at higher risk for serious, sometimes life-threatening illnesses, including heart disease and stroke, diabetes, asthma and certain types of cancer.