Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is an ever increasing problem in the United States. In the last three decades the number of obese children has tripled according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC (2011). Establishing healthy eating habits during childhood is essential and can lead to a lifetime of healthy eating choices (Parker, Burns, & Sanchez, 2009). There are numerous possibilities for causes of childhood obesity such as lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, parental influence and genetics, just to name a few.

Childhood obesity can be defined as a critical medical situation that affects children when a child gains weight above than normal age and height ratio (Carter, 2011). It can be measured by something called Body Mass Index. Body Mass Index or (BMI) is a measurement used to determine childhood obesity (CDC, 2011). BMI is calculated using a child's weight and height. BMI is not a direct measurement of body fat, but it is an indicator of body fatness for most children. A child's weight status is determined by using an age and sex specific percentile for BMI. Adults have BMI categories to determine obesity where as children's body composition varies as they age and varies between boys and girls (CDC, 2011). There is a difference between being overweight and obese. Being overweight is defined as having a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex. Being obese is defined as having a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex (CDC, 2011).