Understanding Childhood Overweight and Obesity
Childhood overweight and obesity occurs when a child or adolescent is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height. It is a serious medical condition that can lead to health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Childhood overweight and obesity has also been associated with poor self-esteem and depression.
Adopting healthy diet and exercise habits in your family can help prevent and treat childhood obesity, and can lead to improved overall health for your child.
To learn more about prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in Chicago and the United States, click here.
For additional resources and information about childhood overweight and obesity, see Resources below or Related Links.
Resources
Visit the following sites for additional information about childhood overweight and obesity
- Mayo Clinic: Childhood Obesity
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Obesity and Overweight
- American Diabetic Association: Healthy Habits for Healthy Kids
- Cleveland Clinic/WebMD: Weight Loss—Obesity in Children
- Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents
- American Heart Association: Overweight in Children
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Strategies and Solutions—Childhood Overweight and Obesity
- Harvard School of Public Health—The Obesity Prevention Source