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Over the past 30 years, a decrease in physical activity has been related to an increase in overweight and obesity among children, adolescents, and teens. The obesity rate has more than tripled, and the current prevalence remains high among children across most age, sex, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Between 2003 and 2007, obesity prevalence increased by 10% for all US children aged 10 to 17 and by 18% for female children. Female children also experienced a 9% increase in overweight prevalence. Data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) demonstrated similar findings between obesity and BMI estimates for children aged 10 to 17 years. The 2007 NSCH estimates were remarkably similar to the 2005-2006 NHANES estimates. In the 2005-2006 NHANES, obesity and overweight prevalence for children aged 10 to 17 years were 18.0% and 33.1%. These results continue to remain very high and should warrant attention regarding innovative way to combat childhood overweight and obesity.
Overweight children and adolescents are at risk for health problems during their youth and as adults. For example, during their youth, overweight children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes) than are other children and adolescents. Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults. For example, one study found that approximately 80% of children who were overweight at age 10-15 were obese adults at age 25. Another study found that 25% of obese adults were overweight as children. The latter study also found that if overweight begins before age 8, obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe. The March 2004 Journal of the American Medical Association reported that poor diet and physical inactivity soon could overtake tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
This issue must be solved for the long-term health of the US population. The best way to initiate behavior change in children is to change media that promote participation in physical activity. This can include physical education classes, after school activities, and community organizations that promote the use of physically-based clinics and camps. New efforts that focus on today's youth must help the public to recognize that physical activity and exercise are keys to improvement. The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD), the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), the American Association of Health Education (AAHE), and the USA Triathlon Organization (USAT) all recognize the significant need for children to learn, achieve, and maintain physical fitness and healthy lifestyles through opportunities that allow them to explore their unique talents while participating in physical activity.
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