What Can We Do to Control Childhood Obesity?

Abstract

This issue of The Annals focuses on child hood obesity. Obesity now affects 18 per cent of U.S. children and adolescents (Ogden et al. 2006). Among children and adolescents, as for adults, African American and Mexican American populations are disproportionately affected. Although only 25 percent of adult obesity begins in childhood, childhood-onset obesity that persists into adulthood is associ ated with more severe adult obesity than obe sity that begins in adulthood (Freedman et al. 2001). Estimates from the Bogalusa Heart Study indicate that 50 percent of adults with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 (approximately one hundred pounds over weight) became obese before the age of eight (D. S. Freedman, unpublished data). Further more, the risk factors for adult disease are already present in childhood. For example, 60 percent of fiveto ten-year-old children have at least one additional risk factor for cardiovascu