Teen Obesity Research

I grew up - way back in the 60’s and 70’s - when it was easy to count the number of “fat kids” on one or two hands. Looking back through my high school yearbook, I calculated that out of a graduating class of 257 the number of obese teens in my class was statistically less than ten percent. That number is a far cry from today’s statistics. Research shows that one in three of American teens are overweight (nih.gov). Teen obesity has become a major concern as many of these young people suffer from health complications; “whose fault” is not an easy question to answer, and solutions to the problem are not always simple.
Across the nation obesity rates have tripled over the past twenty years and not just for adults; young children and teens are …show more content…
Body Mass Index or BMI, is used to determine childhood overweight and obesity. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), “overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and below the 95th percentile, for children and teens of the same age and sex. Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex” (CDC). To calculate a person’s BMI, divide weight converted to kilograms by the square of height in meters.
For children and teens, BMI is age and sex-specific. A child's weight status is determined using an age and sex-specific percentile for BMI rather than the BMI categories used for adults. This is because children's body composition varies as they age and varies between boys and girls. Therefore, BMI levels among children and teens need to be expressed relative to other children of the same age and sex (CDC).
Furthermore, health-care costs related to obesity are staggering. According to MedlinePlus, in 2012, over-weight and obesity cost the United State approximately $270 billion in medical expenses, medications, and lost wages. (These figures include adults as well as children and teens)