A US Epidemic: Childhood Obesity

Abstract

During the AAPA’s 2009 Annual PA Conference, Impact 2009, the Student Academy’s Assembly of Representatives passed Resolution 2009-25: “The Student Academy resolves to encourage student societies to educate youth and parents regarding proper nutrition and physical activity to prevent childhood obesity.” This article is a direct result of that resolution, and with it we hope to impress upon student societies, as well as practicing physician assistants (PAs) and faculty, the importance of addressing childhood obesity in their daily practice. From 1980 to 2006 the prevalence of childhood obesity nearly tripled in children 2-15 years old and more than tripled in children 16-19 years old. Nearly 80% of children who are overweight at age 15 will still be overweight by age 25 and, for these individuals, the severity of their adult obesity will increase due to the earlier onset of obesity in childhood.1,2 According to the US Surgeon General and the World Health Organization, the imbalance of calories taken in and caloric expenditure resulting in childhood obesity is due to a complex interaction of genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors.3,4 These factors can lead to consumption of large amounts of calorie-dense food and replacement of physical activity with more sedentary activities such as watching television and playing video games. But even keeping nutrition and physical activity parameters equal and constant, people will respond differently in their overall energy balance, due to genetic factors.5 With all that we know about genetics and obesity, the current consensus about childhood obesity can be summed up as follows: